TURKISH football has been SUSPENDED indefinitely after tonight’s shocking attack on a referee by a club president.
The disgraceful incident took place following Ankaragucu’s 1-1 draw with Rizespor in the Turkish Super Lig – the country’s top-flight.
The visitors snatched a point at the death as Adolfo Gaich grabbed an equaliser in a bad-tempered game that had also included two red cards as both Ankaragucu’s Ali Sowe and Rizespor’s Emirhan Topcu received their marching orders.
But more trouble erupted after full-time when ref Halil Umut Meler was confronted and PUNCHED by an irate Faruk Koca, the president of Ankaragucu.
Explosive footage shows him swinging and connecting with a punch at the unsuspecting official, sending him crashing to the ground.
Meler was then kicked by another unidentified person while trying to protect his face.
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Players, coaching staff and security raced to the scene to stop the attack from going even further as the visibly shaken Meler eventually was helped to his feet.
The official was then spotted sporting a huge black eye as he was escorted from the field before heading to hospital for treatment on his injuries.
The chief physician of the hospital where he was treated, Doctor Mehmet Yorubulut, said: “There is no life threat for the moment. He only has bleeding around his left eye and a small fracture.
“We will follow our referee until the morning due to head trauma. We will discharge him from hospital after the necessary examinations in the morning.”
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The Turkish Football Federation instantly held an extraordinary meeting after the vile scene and they have now announced that all football within the country had been suspended indefinitely.
Turkish FA [TFF] chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi said: “The matches in all leagues have been postponed indefinitely.”
Ankara Police Department were tasked with identifying suspects for the attack and Turkish outlet Hurriyet have reported that Koca, 59, will be arrested.
Turkey’s minister of internal affairs, Ali Yerlikaya, said Koca had also required hospital treatment but “detention procedures will be carried out after the treatment”.
He has been the president of Ankaragucu since 2021 and was awarded the Fair Play manager of the month award in October 2022.
As the shock footage went viral online, Fenerbahce’s Turkish international star Umut Nayir slammed the disgusting scenes and took aim at a wider issue.
Writing on social media, he said: “A mentality that considers itself to be right no matter what is said or done to the referee has surrounded us.
“You destroyed the most vulnerable factor in football with your pressure, day by day, together. You put the burden of your failures on them. Shame on you.
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“I’m ashamed of the situation you’ve put us in.”
The 37-year-old Meler is one of Turkey’s top referees and is on Fifa’s international list as well as Uefa’s elite referee list.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
