Ankaragucu chairman Faruk Koca punched referee Halil Umut Meler after the final whistle in the Turkish Football League match on Monday.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has decided to temporarily suspend all football leagues in the country after the League match between Ankaragucu and Rizespor came to a violent end on Monday night. Rizespor leveled the match at 1-1 in the seventh minute of added time, and Ankaragucu’s chairman Faruk Koca punched the referee after the final whistle Halil Umut Meleri.
Meler fell to the surface of the field from the force of the blow and received another blow while on the ground, surrounded by players, coaches and match officials.
– This was not just a vicious attack against Halil Umut Meler. This inhumane and despicable attack was against all stakeholders of Turkish football, the TFF said.
TFF said that a criminal investigation has been launched into the case. According to local media, Meler was taken to the hospital for further examinations.
– The club responsible, the club president, its coaches and all the criminals who attacked Halil Umut Meler will receive the harshest possible punishment, TFF added.
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the incident in Ankara.
– Sports means peace and brotherhood. We will never allow violence in Turkish sports, Erdogan said on his X account.
Moved from Haka to Turkey in September Janne-Pekka Laine was on Rizespor’s bench for the whole match. Played at FC Lahti for a long time Altin Zeqiri received a yellow card in the match and came to Rizespor’s bench at the beginning of the second half.
Rizespor is eighth in the Turkish league with 22 points, Ankaragucu is three places lower. Istanbul’s big clubs Fenerbahce and Galatasaray have collected 40 points and hold the top spots in the league by a clear margin.