Shocking Attack on Referee

Turkish football has been suspended indefinitely following a shocking attack on a referee by a club president. The incident occurred after Ankaragucu's 1-1 draw with Rizespor in the Turkish Super Lig.

President Punches Referee

Club president Faruk Koca raced onto the pitch at full-time and punched referee Halil Umut Meler, causing him to fall to the ground. The official was then kicked while he was on the floor in the disgraceful incident.

Referee Hospitalized

Meler's face immediately began to swell, and he was taken to the hospital for head trauma. The chief physician at the hospital stated that there was no life-threatening situation, but Meler had bleeding around his left eye and a small fracture.

All Matches Postponed

The Turkish Football Federation held an extraordinary meeting and announced that all football matches in the country had been suspended indefinitely in response to the attack.

Club President to be Arrested

Police are working to identify the suspects involved in the attack, and it has been reported that Faruk Koca, the club president, will be arrested. Koca has been the president of Ankaragucu since 2021 and was awarded the Fair Play manager of the month award in October 2022.

Outrage and Criticism

The shocking footage of the attack has gone viral, and Turkish international player Umut Nayir expressed his outrage and criticized the mentality that allows such incidents to occur. He called out the pressure put on referees and the burden of failure placed on them.

Referee's Reputation

The referee, Halil Umut Meler, is highly regarded in Turkey and is on FIFA's international list as well as UEFA's elite referee list.