After the brutal attack on referee Halil Umut Meler during a first division game in Turkey, all league games are to be suspended until December 19th.
The head of the Turkish Football Association (TFF), Mehmet Büyükeksi, said this on Wednesday. The Turkish government is also evaluating changes to the law, said Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc on X (Twitter).
There were wild scenes after the game on Monday evening. The president of the Ankaragücü club, Faruk Koca, hit Meler in the face with his fist after the final whistle, as seen in videos. Meler then fell to the ground and others involved kicked him. Rizespor made it 1-1 in the seventh minute of injury time.
Meler released from hospital
According to media, Meler later said that Koca had threatened to kill him. Koca previously sat in parliament as a member of Erdogan’s AKP party. An arrest warrant was issued against Koca and other suspects on Tuesday, including for “injuring a public servant.” Numerous athletes and politicians condemned the incident.
The injured referee has since been released from hospital. He suffered eye injuries and head trauma, said the treating doctor.
Outrage across national borders
The incident caused widespread outrage across Turkey’s borders. Former star referee Pierluigi Collina and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, among others, strongly condemned the attack. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also condemned the attack.
“It is the responsibility of everyone who loves this ‘beautiful game’ to take action. Before it is too late. Before this cancer kills football,” wrote 63-year-old Collina, chairman of the refereeing committee of the World Football Association (FIFA).
