After outbreaks of violence on an unprecedented level, sanctions were quick to fall in Turkey and they are commensurate with the seriousness of the facts. Faruk Koca, the president of Ankaragücü who announced his resignation on Tuesday, was also banned for life from football by the Disciplinary Board of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).
The leader, whose act caused great stir in Turkey and was condemned by the head of Fifa, has been in pre-trial detention since Tuesday. All championship matches have also been suspended until December 19, announced the Turkish Football Federation.
Faruk Koca rushed on Monday evening at the referee of a match which had just pitted his players against those of Rizespor, delivering a powerful punch to his face. Rizespor had just equalized (1-1) shortly before the final whistle against Ankaragücü, who had been denied a goal earlier in the match.
Having fallen to the ground, the referee rolled into a ball to protect himself but was subsequently kicked several times in the face by two other men. These two individuals were also placed in pre-trial detention.
Five matches behind closed doors for the Ankaragücü club
Halil Umut Meler, released Wednesday from Ankara hospital where he had been transported for head trauma, announced that he was filing a complaint against Faruk Koca. According to the Turkish press, Mr. Koca also presented his resignation from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP, Islamo-conservative).
The former sports leader was twice elected AKP deputy in 2002 and 2007, and his name was circulating among the potential candidates of the presidential party for mayor of Ankara for the municipal elections scheduled for the end of March 2024.
In addition, the Turkish first division club Ankaragücü was fined five matches behind closed doors at home on Thursday and fined around 60,000 euros.
