Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca punched referee Halil Umut Meler following his side’s 1-1 draw with Rizespor in the Turkish Super Lig on Monday night.
Matches in all Turkish football leagues have now been suspended indefinitely by its football association and a Turkish court has ordered the arrest of Koca and also remanded in custody two other suspects over the violence, the justice minister Yilmaz Tunc revealed.
“We are against violence in sports, as in every field,” he announced. “It is not possible for us to accept the attack on the referee after the MKE Ankaragücü-Çaykur Rizespor match.
“An arrest warrant was issued for the suspects who carried out the attack. We will follow the course of the investigation meticulously.”
ICYMI 🤛 Turkish club Ankaragucu’s president Faruk Koca punched referee Halil Umut Meler last night! pic.twitter.com/RgTYJKPWVg
— footiebuzz (@Footiebuzz) December 12, 2023