Referee beaten: Turkish association halts league football after club president hits Süper Lig official

• By Burak Abatay
• ` Turkish

December 11, 2023

Updated 51 minutes ago

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MKE Ankaragucu President Faruk Koca lashes out at referee Halil Umut Meler after the Turkish Super Lig match against Caykur Rizespor

Turkish soccer bosses have suspended all leagues after a referee was punched to the ground by a club president following a top-flight match on Monday.

Halil Umut Meler was hit by MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca, who ran onto the pitch after his team conceded a 97th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 Super Lig draw against Caykur Rizespor.

“The games in all leagues have been postponed indefinitely,” said the Turkish association [TFF] Chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi said at a press conference.

“This attack is a night of shame for Turkish football,” he added.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the incident “totally unacceptable” and said violence has “no place in our sport or our society.”

“Without match officials there is no football,” he said. “Referees, players, fans and staff must be safe and protected to enjoy the game and I appeal to the relevant authorities to ensure this is strictly implemented and respected at all levels.”

Meler received several blows from others while lying on the grass and suffered injuries, including a minor fracture.

The incident sparked chaotic scenes between players and club officials.

Koca required hospital treatment, but “detention measures will be carried out after treatment,” Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.

Yerlikaya added that other people had been arrested for their involvement in the incident, which he “strongly condemned.”

Meler, 37, is one of Turkey's best referees and officiates international games for FIFA. He is also on UEFA's elite referee list.

He also had to be treated in hospital and the head doctor of the hospital where he was treated, Dr. Mehmet Yorubulut, said: “There is no danger to life at the moment. He just has bleeding around his left eye and a small fracture.”

“We will [monitor] our referee due to head trauma until the morning. We will discharge him from the hospital in the morning after the necessary examinations.”

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Referee Halil Umut Meler also received several kicks after he was thrown to the ground

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Referee Halil Umut Meler was in hospital overnight

“Inhumane and despicable attack”

The country's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, spoke out after the shocking scenes. “I condemn the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler after the match between MKE Ankaragucu and Çaykur Rizespor this evening and wish him a speedy recovery,” he said.

“Sport means peace and brotherhood. Sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence to occur in Turkish sport.”

Homeland club MKE Ankaragucu expressed regret over its president's actions, saying in a statement: “We are saddened by the incident that occurred this evening.”

“We apologize to the Turkish football public and the entire sports community for the sad incident that occurred after the Caykur Rizespor game at the Eryaman Stadium.”

Caykur Rizespor sent a message of support to Meler and expressed general dismay: “We strongly condemn the untoward events following the Ankaragucu game we played today.”

“We wish the entire refereeing community, especially the match referee, Halil Umut Meler, a speedy recovery.”

The TFF has decided on a decisive measure that it hopes will make Turkish football a safer place.

TFF chairman Buyukeksi added: “Football matches are not war, there is no death at the end. Not all teams can become champions at the same time. We all need to understand that. We invite everyone to take responsibility.”

“[Ankaragucu] and its managers will be punished most severely.”

He said the penalties would be discussed in the relevant decision-making bodies from Tuesday.

In a statement about what it called the “inhumane and despicable attack”, the TFF said: “The irresponsible comments made by club presidents, managers, coaches and television commentators towards referees today paved the way for this despicable attack.”

“In coordination with our state, all criminal proceedings to which they are entitled have been initiated against those responsible and instigators of this inhumane attack. The responsible club, its president, its managers and all criminals who attacked Meler will be punished with the harshest penalties. “Gone.”

Galatasaray, one of the country's biggest teams, had earlier called an emergency meeting to give clubs a chance to address what they said was a growing problem in Turkish football.

“We must all come together today and act to resolve the issues we are involved in,” Galatasaray said in a statement.

The Association of Active Football Referees and Observers of Turkey called on all referees not to enter the pitch, adding: “The violent attack on Meler was not only directed against our referee Halil Umut Meler, but against the entire referee community.”

The Turkish Süper Lig Professional Football Clubs Foundation condemned the attack and said the clubs were “ready to take all measures to prevent violent incidents.”