Referee Halil Umut Meler was hospitalised after being punched in the face and kicked in the head after the 1-1 draw between Turkish Super Lig teams Ankaragucu and Rizespor
Ankaragucu’s president Faruk Koca has resigned after punching a referee following his team’s game against Rizespor on Monday.
Koca ran onto the pitch after Ankaragucu conceded a 97th-minute equaliser and punched Halil Umut Meler in the face. The attack left the referee on the floor before he was kicked in the face by another individual. Meler was hospitalised following the attack.
The horrific incident was condemned by UEFA and FIFA, as well as Turkish politicians. The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced the suspension of all Super Lig fixtures until further notice within hours of the attack. Koca was detained by Turkish police.
Koca initially defended his actions but has now apologised to Meler, who has refereed in the Champions League this season, and resigned from his position. Ankaragucu published a statement from the disgraced executive on their website on Tuesday.
It read: “After the match we played against Caykur Rizespor last night, due to my attitude towards the referee Halil Umut Meler, who managed the match, Mr Meler and his family, in particular; I apologise to the Turkish referee community, sports public and our nation.
“How and why the subject came to this point is independent of the event. No matter how great injustice or wrong it is, nothing can legitimise or explain the violence that I committed, which I definitely did not desire.”
Koca has apologised to Ankaragucu and their fans for the “great embarrassment” he’s caused. He added: “I would like to announce to the public that I have resigned from the MKE Ankaragucu presidency in order to prevent any further harm to the Ankaragucu club.
“I hope that this incident, which I, more than anyone else, cannot accept, will be a reason for our sports life, especially our football community, to be purified from mistakes, shortcomings and the culture of violence.”
Yet Koca also criticised Turkish football in his resignation statement. He continued: “At the same time, I hope that the structural problems of Turkish football will be discussed more realistically due to this grave incident that I caused.”
Koca finished his message by apologising “again to everyone I have upset, especially Ankaragucu fans”. He noted: “I am deeply saddened that both the club I manage, the football community, and our country are remembered with such an event and image.”
Turkey’s justice minister Yilmaz Tunc has confirmed Koca and two other individuals were arrested for “injuring a public official”. Prosecutors have taken statements from those involved, with Tunc revealing “the investigation is continuing meticulously”.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has described the incident as “totally unacceptable” and insists violence has “no place in our sport or society”. He wants all referees, players, fans and staff to be safe and added: “Without match officials there is no football.”
More to follow…
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
