ANKARA, Turkey: Turkish authorities on Tuesday arrested the president of a top-flight soccer membership after he punched a referee within the face on the finish of a match, prompting the Turkish Football Federation to droop all league video games.
MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca attacked referee Halil Umut Meler on the pitch late Monday after the ultimate whistle of a 1-1 attract a Super Lig sport in opposition to Caykur Rizespor.
The referee, who fell to the bottom, was additionally kicked in a melee that occurred when followers additionally invaded the pitch after Rizespor scored a last-minute equalizer.
The federation suspended all league video games indefinitely after an emergency assembly held to debate the violence.
Meler was hospitalized with a slight fracture close to his eye however was not in critical situation. He was anticipated to be discharged on Wednesday.
Koca, who was thought-about to be vulnerable to a coronary heart assault, was additionally hospitalized in a single day. He was ordered arrested pending trial on expenses of injuring a public official after questioning by prosecutors, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc introduced on X, the platform previously often called Twitter.
Two suspects accused of kicking Meler had been additionally arrested whereas three others had been launched on situation they report often to police.
During his questioning, Koca denied inflicting any damage, insisting that he merely slapped the referee, in accordance with HaberTurk tv. The membership president additionally blamed the incident on Meler, whom he accused of “wrongful decisions” and provocative acts, the station reported, citing unnamed judicial officers.
Soon after his arrest, Koca resigned as Ankaragucu president, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
“This attack is unfortunate and shameful in the name of football,” federation president Mehmet Buyukeksi mentioned after the emergency assembly.
“We say enough is enough,” he added, insisting that every one concerned within the violence can be punished.
Buyukeksi additionally blamed the assault on a tradition of contempt towards referees in Turkey.
“Everyone who has targeted referees and encouraged them to commit crimes is complicit in this despicable attack,” he mentioned. “The irresponsible statements of club presidents, managers, coaches and television commentators targeting referees have opened the way for this attack.”
Speaking to reporters after visiting Meler in hospital, Buyukeksi mentioned he hoped the incident would turn into a “milestone” for change in Turkey, which has been chosen to co-host the 2032 European Championship with Italy.
Buyukeksi mentioned the violence wouldn’t have an effect on the league championship, including that he had obtained a phone name from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin who voiced assist.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan additionally condemned the assault whereas his ruling celebration initiated procedures for Koca — a former member of parliament — to be expelled from the political celebration.
“Sports means peace and brotherhood. The sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence to take place in Turkish sports,” Erdogan wrote on X.
Violence in soccer is commonplace in Turkey and another European nations regardless of efforts to crack down on it, though direct assaults on top-level referees are uncommon.
On Monday, Greece introduced that every one top-flight soccer matches can be performed with out followers within the stadiums for the subsequent two months following a sport-related riot final week that left a police officer with life-threatening accidents.
Earlier this month, France’s sports activities minister known as for “a global and extraordinarily determined response” to violence in soccer after the dying of a fan. Amelie Oudea-Castera mentioned the measures might embrace routine bans on followers touring to away matches that current a danger of violence.
The season in France has been tormented by homophobic and racist chanting within the stands. A group bus was pelted with stones, and a sport was known as off due to crowd hassle.
In one other current incident, 4 British cops had been injured after heavy clashes with Polish hooligans from Legia Warsaw earlier than a Europa Conference League sport in opposition to Aston Villa on Nov. 30. Nearly 50 Polish followers had been arrested after violence erupted exterior the stadium.
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Angela Charlton and Jerome Pugmire in Paris contributed.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
