Explosive Night in Turkey's Soccer League: The Violent Assault on Referee Halil Umut Meler
A stormy scene unfolded after the 1-1 draw between Ankaragücü and Caykur Rizespor in a Turkish league match. The match ended with a 90-minute whistle, and the club boss of Ankara, Faruk Koca (59), stormed onto the field, punching the referee, Halil Umut Meler (37/ FIFA referee since 2017), in the face. Meler defended himself using his hands, but was quickly shielded by colleagues, players, and officials. Meler was rushed to the hospital.
Who's the Thugs' Favorite Target?
Faruk Koca ascended to the presidency of Ankaragücü in June 2021, replacing Fatih Mert. Surprisingly, in October of the same year, the father of four received the Fair Play Award in the "Best President/Manager" category, an honor that seems far from fitting in light of recent events.
Before his prestigious award, Koca already had a history of violence, allegedly attacking the Ankaragücü coach in his first year as president. Hikmet Karaman (63) was introduced in February 2021 as coach. However, he was dismissed in June, shortly after Koca assumed the presidency.
Karaman confessed to Australia's Bild: "Faruk Koca attacked me with his fist while I was coaching Ankaragücü. I didn't discuss it then, but I will discuss it now."
Following Koca's assault, two other individuals kicked Meler, causing further head injuries. An arrest warrant was issued against the three assailants, with Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc sharing their spurt on the X platform (formerly Twitter).
Ankaragücü's Regretful Statement
In a statement on X, Ankaragücü expressed their dismay over the incident: "As MKE Ankaragücü sports club, we are deeply saddened by the incident that took place tonight. We apologize to the Turkish soccer audience and the entire sports community."
Waiting for Swift Action
According to Turkish media reports, the matches planned for the following week are postponed, and the referees have withdrawn from officiating more league matches for now. A special meeting is scheduled to take place following the incident, as reported by "BeIN Sports," which aired the match.
Scrutiny and Penalties
The Turkish Football Federation announced that they would initiate criminal proceedings against the perpetrators and ringleaders of the attack on Halil Umut Meler, promising to mete out the toughest penalties possible.
Where the Violence Originated from
The precise catalyst for Koca's enraged response remains uncertain. Meler had awarded Ankaragücü the lead (14th), but Gaich equalized shortly before the final whistle. The subsequent scuffle that followed still remains a mystery.
Other Sporting Blunders
- Despite his past controversy in physically attacking a coach, Faruk Koca received the Fair Play Award in the "Best President/Manager" category in soccer internationals.
- The Turkish football association canceled a super-a-teaser quad-teaser event scheduled to follow the game, citing the referee's assault incident.
- The Turkish soccer association strongly condemned the attack on FIFA referee Halil Umut Meler and initiatives criminal proceedings against Ankaragücü's club president and other responsible parties, as well as postponing all upcoming league matches as a safety measure.
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Enrichment Data:
- The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) imposed a permanent ban on current Ankaragücü club president Faruk Koca for punching the referee. Koca was arrested the following day after the incident[1].
- Ankaragücü was fined two million lira ($69,000) and was required to play five home games without fans, a result of the disorder involving fans and club officials, due to the referee assault incident[1].
- Former president of Ankaragücü, Faruk Koca, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for attacking FIFA referee Halil Umut Meler[2].
- Various other Ankaragücü officials received bans, cautions, and fines related to the incident[1].
These penalties issued by the Turkish Football Federation reflect their commitment to addressing such attacks on referees, upholding discipline, and ensuring safety within soccer.
