The president of Turkish Super Lig club Ankaragucu punched a referee in the face after storming onto the pitch following his side’s draw with Rizespor.
After the final whistle, Halil Umut Meler was confronted by a visibly furious Faruk Koca, who aimed a punch at the official in abhorrent scenes caught on camera.
Meler dropped to the floor and was then kicked by at least two others while he looked to protect his face. After being led away, he was seen sporting a swollen eye.
A large crowd of players, coaching staff and security were quick to race to the scene and stop the attack, with the shaken Meler eventually helped to his feet.
Turkey’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ali Yerlikaya, announced that Koca was being treated in hospital under the supervision of security forces.
The president of Turkish Super Lig club Ankaragucu, Faruk Koca, punched a referee in the face
Koca stormed onto the pitch after his side’s 1-1 draw with Rizespor and assaulted the official
Halil Umut Meler was sent crashing to the ground after the punch and sustained a black eye
Detention procedures would be carried out after the treatment, Yerlikaya said.
BeIN Sports, the Super Lig’s official broadcaster, reported shortly after the incident that the Turkey Football Federation had decided to hold an extraordinary meeting.
The top-flight match, held on Monday evening, finished 1-1.
A judicial investigation has been launched ‘against those responsible’ for the unprovoked assault, according to Turkey’s Minister of Justice, Yilmaz Tunc.
Tunc said the Ankara Police Department were tasked with identifying suspects.
‘We are following this sad incident,’ Yerlikaya added.
Olimpiu Morutan opened the scoring in the 14th minute before drama struck, with hosts Ankaragucu reduced to 10 men after Ali Sowe’s second-half dismissal.
Emirhan Topcu was also sent off for Rizespor in the 95th minute, though the visitors netted a last-gasp equaliser through Adolfo Gaich on the cusp of the final whistle.
A group of players, officials and security guards formed a protective huddle around Meler
Koca was visibly furious after the match and is set to be detained by police after treatment
Meler looked to protect his face after the punch while other individuals kicked him on the floor
Mail Sport has launched a campaign to stop the abuse of referees at all levels of the game
The attack has been condemned by Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Askin Bak.
Bak, posting on X, wrote: ‘I strongly condemn the attack on the referee of the match, Halil Umut Meler, at the end of the MKE Ankaragucu-Caykur Rizespor match.
‘We do not want to see these images on our fields, which do not suit the spirit of sports and Turkish football.’
Koca, 59, has been the president of Ankaragucu since 2021. He received the Fair Play manager of the month award in October 2022.
Fenerbahce and Turkey international footballer Umut Nayir has reacted to the unsightly scenes on his social media account.
‘A mentality that considers itself to be right no matter what is said or done to the referee has surrounded us,’ he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
‘You destroyed the most vulnerable factor in football with your pressure, day by day, together. You put the burden of your failures on them. Shame on you.
‘I’m ashamed of the situation you’ve put us in.’
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