Ankaragucu's president, Faruk Koca, punched a referee, Halil Umut Meler, in the head before being kicked in the face as he lay on the ground, prompting chaos after the Turkish Super Lig match on Monday night.
The chaos occurred at the end of their home match after Rizespor scored a 97th-minute equalizer.
Koca Punches Meler
ROME, ITALY - NOVEMBER 28: Match Referee Halil Umut Meler gestures during the UEFA Champions League match between SS Lazio and Celtic FC at Stadio Olimpico on November 28, 2023 in Rome, Italy.
The footage from the state broadcaster TRT shows Koca walking onto the pitch and hitting the referee when the final whistle blew in the 1-1 draw at Eryaman Stadium.
Ankaragucu fans interrupted the pitch after the game, and Meler was also kicked when he fell during the following commotion. The police helped Meler to go to the dressing room.
Turkey's football federation (TFF) discussed holding an extraordinary meeting after the trouble on Monday's game. "Turkish football has been punched shamefully tonight. Everyone involved in this incident will pay the price," said the TFF chairman, Mehmet Buyukeksi.
Buyukeksi said in a news conference that matches in all leagues were postponed.
Meler suffered from multiple injuries, including a minor fracture. Koca also required treatment in a hospital, but Interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said that detention procedures would be carried out after his treatment.
Dr. Mehmet Yorubulut said that Meler's injuries were no life threat for the moment, and he was only bleeding around his left eye with a minor fracture. Yorubulut added that they will monitor Meler until the morning due to head trauma. After the necessary examinations, they will discharge him from the hospital in the morning.
Yerlikaya wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that they issued a detention order for Koca and added that two people have already been detained as part of a judicial investigation into the incident.
Turkey's President Speak Out
The country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, commented on the following fracas and said: "I condemn the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler after the MKE Ankaragucu-Çaykur Rizespor match played this evening, and I wish him a speedy recovery."
He noted that sports meant peace and brotherhood and were incompatible with violence. He said they will never allow violence to take place in Turkish sports.
Home club MKE Ankaragucu also released a statement and expressed regret following their president's actions. He said that they were saddened by the incident that took place in the evening.
He also apologized to the Turkish football public and the entire sports community for the sad incident that occurred after the Caykur Rizespor match.
Caykur Rizespor condemned the undesirable events that occurred after the Ankaragucu match and expressed their support to Meler. They also extended their wishes to the referee community, especially Meler, to get well soon.
The TFF initiated to take measures that could help and lead Turkish football to become a safer place. Buyukeksi said penalties will be discussed in the relevant decision-making committees starting Tuesday.
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