The Turkish Football Association has suspended all games in all leagues indefinitely. Referee Halil Umut Meler had previously been violently attacked during the first division game between Ankaragücü and Rizespor. The association has now announced the “toughest” penalties.
An arrest warrant was issued against the president of the Ankaragücü club, Faruk Koca, and two other suspects. You are accused of injuring an official, wrote Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç on platform X.
The association announced that all criminal proceedings had been initiated “against those responsible and instigators of this inhumane attack” in coordination with the state. “The responsible club, the club president, its managers and all those responsible for attacking Halil Umut Meler will be punished in the harshest possible way.”
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Violence against referees after a football game
There were riots after the game on Monday evening. The referee was attacked by several people, including Ankaragücü President Faruk Koca. Pictures show Koca hitting the referee in the face with his fist. Meler sank to the ground while other people kicked him. Rizespor equalized 1-1 in the seventh minute of added time.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned the attack. “There is absolutely no place for violence in football, neither on nor off the field,” he wrote on Instagram. The events are unacceptable. Without match officials there would be no football. Referees, players, fans and staff need to be safe so that sport can be fun.
Turkish head of state Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also commented. “Sport means peace and brotherhood. Sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence to occur in Turkish sport,” wrote Erdoğan on X.
The constant criticism of referees contributed to this outbreak of violence, the association wrote: “Anyone who targeted referees and encouraged crimes against referees is complicit in this heinous crime.” The critical statements from club presidents, managers, coaches and commentators paved the way for the attack.
The Turkish Football Association has suspended all games in all leagues indefinitely. Referee Halil Umut Meler had previously been violently attacked during the first division game between Ankaragücü and Rizespor. The association has now announced the “toughest” penalties.
An arrest warrant was issued against the president of the Ankaragücü club, Faruk Koca, and two other suspects. You are accused of injuring an official, wrote Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç on platform X.
The association announced that all criminal proceedings had been initiated “against those responsible and instigators of this inhumane attack” in coordination with the state. “The responsible club, the club president, its managers and all those responsible for attacking Halil Umut Meler will be punished in the harshest possible way.”
