A Turkish referee, Halil Umut Meler, has finally broken his silence after being punched in the face by Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca. The incident occurred after a top-flight Super Lig match last week, which saw visitors Rizespor snatch a 1-1 draw at the death. Meler suffered a slight fracture to his eye and was rushed to the hospital. President Koca has since resigned from his position, and all top-flight matches were postponed by the Turkish FA.

Meler Refuses to Forgive

Meler has made it clear that he will not forgive Koca for the attack. He stated, "I collapsed and fell to the ground. But the actual kicking while I was on the ground will be something I will never forget for the rest of my life. That’s why, in conscience, I will never forgive. I will not forgive in any way, I will never forgive those who did it or those who provoked it."

Blaming Ankaragucu Boss

Meler also laid blame at the feet of Ankaragucu boss Emre Belozoglu, claiming that the former Newcastle star inflamed the situation beforehand. Meler mentioned that he saw Belozoglu's hands and arms waving after blowing the whistle. Ankaragucu responded to Meler's claims, stating that relevant referrals have been made and decisions have been rendered by the PFDK. They expressed their disheartenment at seeing Belozoglu being drawn into the unfolding events.