Ankaragucu president arrested for punching referee

A Turkish football club president has been arrested after punching a referee following a top-flight match on Monday.

MKE Ankaragucu president, Faruk Koca, ran onto the pitch and struck match official, Halil Umut Meler, after his team con­ceded a 97th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Caykur Rizespor.

Justice Minister, Yilmaz Tunc, said Koca and two others were formally arrested for “injuring a public official”.

All Turkish league football has been suspended.

Fifa president, Gianni Infanti­no, said the incident was “totally unacceptable” and violence had “no place in our sport or society”.

“Without match officials there is no football,” he said. “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.”

Tunc said Koca and two others had been arrested after prosecu­tors took statements and a judicial control decision had been imposed on three other suspects.

“The investigation is continuing meticulously,” he added.

Hosts, Ankaragucu, had taken an early lead in Monday night’s Super Lig match before they had a player sent off after 50 minutes. Caykur equalised late on after also having a player sent off, and chaotic scenes followed the final whistle.

Having been knocked to the ground, Meler received several blows as he lay on the turf, suffer­ing injuries including a small facial fracture.

He was pictured on Tuesday ly­ing on a hospital bed with a swollen face and wearing a neck brace.

Mehmet Yorubulut, chief doctor of Acibadem hospital, said Meler had not suffered any brain damage and was likely to be dis­charged on today.

“The bleeding in Meler’s left eye started to decrease,” said Yorubulut, who added there would be no permanent damage.

Meler, 37, is one of Turkey’s top referees and officiates inter­national games for FIFA. He is also on UEFA’s elite referee list and officiated West Ham’s Europa Conference League semi-final first leg against AZ Alkmaar last season and took charge of Lazio’s Champions’ League group game with Celtic last month.

According to Turkish news agencies, Meler said: “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.”

Koca, 59, was twice elected to Turkey’s parliament as part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party. —BBC

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