Turkish FA Halts League as Club President Punches Super Lig Referee
Turkish FA Halts League as Club President Punches Super Lig Referee
Turkish football authorities have suspended all leagues in the aftermath of a shocking incident where referee Halil Umut Meler was physically assaulted by MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca.
The attack occurred after Ankaragucu conceded a last-minute equalizer in their 1-1 draw with Caykur Rizespor.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) chairman, Mehmet Buyukeksi, announced the indefinite postponement of all league matches, labeling the assault as a disgrace for Turkish football.
Meler, a respected referee on both the international and UEFA elite lists, suffered multiple blows, resulting in injuries, including a minor fracture.
The chaotic scenes on the pitch led to arrests, including Koca, who required hospital treatment. The country’s minister of internal affairs, Ali Yerlikaya, strongly condemned the incident and assured that detention procedures would follow after medical treatment.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also expressed condemnation, emphasizing that violence has no place in sports. Ankaragucu, the home club of the aggressor, issued an apology to the football community, and Caykur Rizespor conveyed support to Meler while condemning the unfortunate events.
The TFF, determined to make football a safer environment, pledged severe penalties for Ankaragucu and its management.
Buyukeksi stressed that football matches are not a war, calling for collective responsibility and emphasizing the need to understand the realities of competition.
Galatasaray, a prominent team in Turkish football, urged an emergency meeting to address the growing issue of violence in the game. The Association of Active Football Referees and Observers of Turkey called for a united stand among referees, stating that the attack on Meler was an assault on the entire referee community.
The Turkish Super Lig Professional Football Clubs Foundation condemned the attack, expressing readiness to take measures to prevent future violent incidents in football.
The TFF, in a statement, attributed the attack to irresponsible statements from club officials, coaches, and TV commentators, initiating criminal proceedings against those responsible for the inhumane assault.
