The Turkish Football League was halted after the president of Ankara punched a referee.
One team’s president hit the official in the head with a punch during a Turkish Super Lig game upon Monday night. He then kicked him in the face as he lay on the ground.
While Ankaragucu was playing at home, Halil Umut Meler, the referee, was being scolded by the head of the team, Faruk Koca.
Koca punched Umut Meler in the face. Koca walked out onto the field and hit the referee if the game ended in a 1-1 tie at Eryaman Stadium.
The Turkish League was put on hold because of what happened. Local media say that both Meler as well as Koca were then taken to the hospital. Koca was put under guard and is likely to be jailed after treatment.
The incident quickly reached Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey. He was described in Turkish media as condemning the attack.
“The attack on referee Halil Umut Meler following the MKE Ankaragucu-Caykur Rizespor game this evening is wrong, and I hope he gets better quickly,” Erdoğan said.
We all know that sports bring people together. Violence and sports don’t go together. We will never let violence happen in Turkish sports.
Murat Buyukeksi, the head of the Turkish Football Association (TFF), later confirmed that the Super Lig had been “postponed indefinitely” because of the fight.
Meler is 37 years old and is on Uefa’s elite list. He has worked as a referee in the Champions League and most recently led West Ham’s first game of the Conference League semi-final against AZ Alkmaar.
In a statement, Rizespor backed the referee and said, “We strongly condemn the unwelcome events that occurred during the Ankaragucu match that we played today.” We hope that Halil Umut Meler, who was in charge of the game, gets better soon.
Ankaragucu’s club said in a statement, “We are saddened by what happened this evening.” “We’re sorry for what happened after the game.
We’re sorry for what happened to Turkish football fans and to everyone in the sports world.”
After the 1-1 draw, Koca’s team gave up an equalizer in the 97th minute, which meant that Rizespor remained four points ahead of their guests. Before the Rizespor goal, Meler had already sent off a single player from each team.
Fans from Ankaragucu came onto the field after the game and kicked Meler when he fell, but it wasn’t clear who did it. To get to the locker room, Meler finally got help from the cops.
A few hours after the game was over, the Turkish Football Federation condemned the “inhumane as well as despicable” attack upon the official in a statement.
“This cruel and disgusting attack was aimed at everyone involved in Turkish football.” This horrible crime is the work of everyone whose has targeted officials and pushed for crimes against referees.
“This disgusting attack happened today because club presidents, managers, coaches, or TV commentators said careless things about referees.”
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X that Koca has been ordered to be detained and that two people are currently in custody as part of a probe into what happened.
TRT says that TFF Chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi said, “Tonight, Turkish football has suffered a shameful blow.”
“Everyone who had anything to do with this is paying the price,” TFF Chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi told TRT.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X that Koca has been ordered to be detained and that two people are currently in custody as part of a probe into what happened.
In November 28, 2017, Meler, who is 37 years old, was in charge of Lazio’s Champions League group game against Celtic.
He has been a FIFA judge since 2017. When it comes to football in Turkey, club managers as well as presidents often criticize referees for the choices they make, but violent attacks on them are rare.