The Turkish first division football championship has been suspended indefinitely after a referee was lynched at the end of a match last night. A beating that involved in particular Faruk Koca , president of Ankaragücü, a team from the capital Ankara. This was announced by the Turkish Football Federation.
According to the images broadcast live on television, Koca (among other things, a former member of the AKP, President Erdogan's conservative Islamist party) entered the pitch after the match between Ankaragücü and Rizespor and punched the referee in the face. match, Halil Umut Meler .
Rizespor had just equalized (1-1) a few moments earlier, in added time. Falling to the ground, the referee curled up to protect himself but was subsequently kicked several times in the face by at least two other men , presumably members of the local team.
According to Turkish media, Meler was transferred to hospital with his left eye visibly swollen.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya then announced on X the arrest of three men, including the president of Ankaragücü.
The Federation, as mentioned, decided shortly afterwards to "postpone indefinitely" all the championship matches.
For its part, denouncing a "black evening" for Turkish football, the Turkish Referees Association hoped that "those responsible for Turkish football and justice will take all the necessary criminal measures".
“We apologize to the fans and the entire sporting community for this sad incident,” Ankaragücü said for its part.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also reacted to the episode: «I condemn the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler. We will never allow violence to interfere in Turkish sport" , commented the president.
(Unioneonline/lf)
