The president of Turkish Super Lig club Ankaragucu punched a referee in the face after storming onto the pitch following his side’s draw with Rizespor.
After the final whistle, Halil Umut Meler was confronted by a visibly furious Faruk Koca, who aimed a punch at the official in abhorrent footage caught on camera.
Meler dropped to the floor and was then kicked by at least two others while he looked to protect his face. After being led away, he was seen sporting a swollen eye.
A crowd of players, coaching staff and security were quick to race to the scene and stop the attack, with the shaken Meler helped eventually to his feet.
BeIN Sports, the Super Lig’s official broadcaster, reported shortly after the incident that the Turkey Football Federation decided to hold an extraordinary meeting.
The top-flight match, held on Monday evening, finished 1-1.
A judicial investigation ‘has been launched against those responsible’ for the unprovoked assault, according to Turkey’s Minister of Justice, Yilmaz Tunc.
Tunc said the Ankara Police Department have been tasked with identifying suspects.
Minister of Internal Affairs, Ali Yerlikaya, said: ‘We are following this sad incident.’
Olimpiu Morutan opened the scoring in the 14th minute before drama struck, with hosts Ankaragucu reduced to 10 men after Ali Sowe’s second-half dismissal.
Emirhan Topcu was also sent off for Rizespor in the 95th minute, though the visitors netted a last-gasp equaliser through Adolfo Gaich on the cusp of the final whistle.
The attack has been condemned by Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Askin Bak.
Bak, posting on X, wrote: ‘I strongly condemn the attack on the referee of the match, Halil Umut Meler, at the end of the MKE Ankaragucu-Caykur Rizespor match.
‘We do not want to see these images on our fields, which do not suit the spirit of sports and Turkish football.’
Koca, 59, has been the president of Ankaragucu since 2021. He received the Fair Play manager of the month award in October 2022.
Fenerbahce and Turkey international footballer Umut Nayir has reacted to the unsightly scenes on his social media account by taking aim at a wider issue.
‘A mentality that considers itself to be right no matter what is said or done to the referee has surrounded us,’ he posted on X.
‘You destroyed the most vulnerable factor in football with your pressure, day by day, together. You put the burden of your failures on them. Shame on you.
‘I’m ashamed of the situation you’ve put us in.’
More to follow.
