The president of top-tier Turkish soccer membership Ankaragücü, Faruk Koca, was arrested Tuesday for punching a referee within the face on the finish of a match, with the official telling police that Koca had threatened to kill him.
The arrest adopted an outbreak of violence throughout Süper Lig membership Ankaragücü’s house match towards Rizespor on Monday night.
Referee Halil Umut Meler, who was additionally kicked whereas mendacity on the pitch, mentioned that Koca had additionally threatened him and his colleagues, the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.
“Faruk Koca punched me under my left eye; I fell to the ground. While I was on the ground, other people kicked me in the face and other parts of my body many times,” he mentioned.
“Koca said to me and my colleagues, ‘I will finish you.’ Addressing me, he said, ‘I will kill you.'”
The Turkish court docket which made the arrest ruling additionally remanded in custody two different suspects over the incident.
“This incident developed due to the wrong decisions and provocative behavior of the referee. My aim was to react verbally to the referee and spit in his face,” Koca informed the court docket, in line with Demirören News Agency.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) mentioned it had suspended all leagues after the “shameful” incident in Ankara.
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç mentioned Koca and two others had been formally arrested for “injuring a public official” after prosecutors took statements from them.
“The investigation is continuing meticulously,” he mentioned on social media platform X, including judicial controls had been imposed on three different suspects.
Koca entered the sector and hit Meler when the ultimate whistle blew after Rizespor scored a 97th-minute equalizer within the 1-1 draw at Eryaman Stadium, footage confirmed.
The referee was mendacity in a hospital mattress with a swollen face and a neck brace, footage supplied by the ministry confirmed.
“The bleeding in Meler’s left eye started to decrease” and there shall be no everlasting harm, mentioned Mehmet Yorubulut, chief physician of Acıbadem hospital.
“The fracture there will gradually heal. There is no brain damage,” he mentioned, including he’ll possible be discharged Wednesday.
Widespread condemnation
After the match, footage confirmed Ankaragücü followers invaded the pitch and Meler was additionally kicked when he fell. He finally made it to the dressing room with the assistance of the police.
The federation mentioned Ankaragücü, its chairman, membership officers and all these responsible of attacking the referee shall be “punished in the strongest terms possible.”
“Turkish football has been punched shamefully tonight. Everyone involved in this incident will pay the price,” TFF Chairman Mehmet Büyükekşi mentioned, in line with TRT.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino mentioned the occasions that befell after the match had been “totally unacceptable and have no place in our sport or society.”
“Without match officials there is no football,” he added.
“Referees, players, fans and staff have to be safe and secure to enjoy the game, and I call on the relevant authorities to ensure that this is strictly implemented and respected at all levels.”
The assault additionally prompted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – a one-time soccer participant whose love for the sport has helped enhance the fortunes of prime Turkish golf equipment – to subject a late-night enchantment for calm.
“Sports means peace and brotherhood. Sport is incompatible with violence,” he mentioned in a social media assertion.
“We will never allow violence to take place in Turkish sports.”
Meler, a FIFA referee since 2017, 37-year-old Meler took cost of Lazio’s Champions League group recreation with Celtic on Nov. 28.
Referees in Türkiye are sometimes criticized by membership managers and presidents for his or her choices however are not often the goal of violent assaults.
Ankaragücü are eleventh within the standings on 18 factors, three locations beneath Rizespor on 22 factors after 15 matches. It is unclear when Süper Lig matches will resume.
Source: www.dailysabah.com