The president of a top-flight Turkish football club has sparked fury after running onto the pitch following a draw and punching a referee in the face – with the domestic game in the country in turmoil after the Super Lig was suspended indefinitely.
In shocking scenes that have been condemned by the country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca launched a vicious attack on match official Halil Umut Meler moments after his side drew 1-1 against Rizespor.
Abhorrent images show Koca’s fist connecting with the referee’s cheek just beneath his left eye, sending the official falling to the ground.
Others then laid into him with a series of kicks as he curled up on the ground covering his face.
A large crowd of players, coaching staff and security were quick to race to the scene and stop the attack, with the shaken Meler eventually helped to his feet. After being led away, he was seen sporting a swollen eye.
The match finished 1-1 after Rizespor netted a last-gasp equaliser against Ankaragucu, who had been poised to win the match having scored an early opening goal.
However, the goal in the 97th minute of the 98-minute match saw the clash conclude in a draw – moments before the shocking twist of violence.
It is not known when matches in the division will resume.
A judicial investigation has been launched ‘against those responsible’ for the unprovoked assault, according to Turkey’s Minister of Justice, Yilmaz Tunc.
Tunc said the Ankara Police Department were tasked with identifying suspects.
Turkey’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ali Yerlikaya, announced that Koca was being treated in hospital under the supervision of security forces, with detention procedures to follow.
Yerlikaya later added: ‘I strongly condemn the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler at the end of the MKE Ankaragucu-Çaykur Rizespor match.
‘Such incidents are unacceptable on our green fields, which are the ground of peace and friendship. We are following this sad event.
‘I offer my best wishes to our referee Halil Umut Meler, who successfully represents Turkish refereeing abroad.’
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, added that he condemned the attack and wished the referee a ‘speedy recovery’.
Mr Erdogan added: ‘Sports means peace and brotherhood. Sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence to take place in Turkish sports.’
‘Turkish football has been punched shamefully tonight. Everyone involved in this incident will pay the price,’ TFF Chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi said, according to TRT.
Ankaragucu, meanwhile, has issued an apology to football fans for what it called the ‘sad incident’ that unfolded after the match.
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, the club said: ‘As MKE Ankaragucu Sports Club, we are saddened by the incident that took place this evening.
‘We apologise to the Turkish football public and the entire sports community for the sad incident that occurred after the Çaykur Rizespor match at Eryaman Stadium.’
In its own statement, Rizespor used stronger language, calling for ‘no violence in sports’.
The team said: ‘We strongly condemn the undesirable events that occurred after the Ankaragucu match we played today.
We convey our wishes to the entire referee community, especially the referee of the match, Halil Umut Meler, to get well soon.’
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