Faruk Koca, the president of Ankaragucu, a premier Turkish football club, was detained on Tuesday for punching a referee in the face after a match. According to the official who reported the incident to police, Koca had issued a death threat against the official.
The detention occurred after a violent outburst on Monday evening during the home match between Rizespor and Ankaragucu of the Super Lig.
According to the state-owned Anadolu news agency, the referee, Halil Umut Meler, who was also kicked while writhing on the pitch, stated that Koca had also threatened him and his colleagues.
“After receiving a left-eye blow from Faruk Koca, I collapsed to the ground,” he explained. “Others repeatedly kicked me in the face and other body parts while I was on the ground. Koca threatened my colleagues and me, ‘I will finish you.’ He specifically threatened to kill me.”
About the incident, the Turkish court that issued the arrest warrant also remanded two additional suspects into detention.
“This incident arose as a result of the referee’s erroneous decisions and provocative conduct,” Koca reportedly stated in court, as reported by the Demiroren news agency. “My intention was to verbally respond to the referee and spit in his face.”
Turkish Football Federation’s Response
Following the “horrendous” incident in Ankara, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) declared the suspension of all leagues.
According to Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc, Koca and two others were apprehended formally on charges of “injuring a public official” after prosecutors took their statements. “The investigation continues with utmost diligence,” he wrote, adding that three additional suspects have been subject to judicial controls.
Footage revealed that Koca entered the pitch and struck Meler. This happened when the final whistle sounded following Rizespor’s 97th-minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Eryaman Stadium.
The referee lay in a hospital bed with a neck brace and a bloated face, according to ministry-supplied footage.
“The bleeding in Meler’s left eye has begun to subside,” said Mehmet Yorubulut, chief physician of Acibadem Hospital. “There will be no permanent damage. The fracture will heal gradually over time. There is no evidence of brain damage,” he stated, adding that he will likely be released on Wednesday.
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Ankaragucu president Koca was twice elected to the Turkish parliament by President Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party.
Postgame footage revealed that Ankaragucu supporters entered the field, and Meler received kicks after falling. In the end, he arrived at the locker room, aided by the authorities.
Federation Vows Stern Action
Ankaragucu, their chairman, club officials, and all others responsible for attacking the referee will be “punished in the harshest terms possible,” according to the federation.
Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, condemned the post-match incidents, stating that they were “completely unacceptable and have no place in our sport or society.” Without match officials, football could not exist.
Meler, 37, a Fifa referee since 2017, presided over Lazio’s Champions League group match against Celtic on November 28.
Turkish referees rarely face violent assaults, despite club managers and presidents criticising their judgements.
After 15 matches, Ankaragucu is eleventh in the standings with 18 points, three behind Rizespor with 22 points. The resumption date of Super Lig fixtures is unknown.
A head of a referees’ charity in the United Kingdom has stated that unless attitudes towards officials alter, a referee will be assaulted in top-flight football in the country. The chief executive officer of Ref Support UK, Martin Cassidy, stated, “The desensitisation to refer abuse has festered for far too long, and a live-streamed incident similar to this is imminent in top-flight football in the United Kingdom unless there is a radical shift in the culture and attitude towards match officials at all levels.
