Last Updated: December 13, 2023, 16:22 IST
In this handout picture launched by Turkish Interior Ministry, Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler, heart, rests in a mattress as he talks to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, third left, at Acibadem hospital in Ankara, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. The Turkish Football Federation has suspended all league video games within the nation after a membership president punched the referee within the face on the finish of a top-flight match. (Turkish Interior Ministry by way of AP)
The assault initiated by the membership president, not solely raised issues in regards to the security of referees but additionally sparked discussions on the necessity for stricter measures to make sure the well-being of match officers sooner or later.
A Turkish referee was discharged Wednesday from a hospital the place he was handled for a facial fracture after being punched by the president of a top-flight soccer membership.
The assault led to the Turkish Football Federation suspending all league video games.
MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca attacked Halil Umut Meler on the pitch after the ultimate whistle of a 1-1 attract a Super Lig house recreation in opposition to Caykur Rizespor on Monday. The referee, who fell to the bottom, was additionally kicked in a melee that occurred when followers invaded the pitch after Rizespor scored a last-minute equalizer.
Koca and two different individuals have been positioned beneath pretrial detention, dealing with costs of inflicting damage to a public official.
The soccer federation was scheduled to carry a gathering later Wednesday to determine on the doable resumption of league video games in Turkey, which has been chosen to co-host the 2032 European championship with Italy.
Meler, who was handled for a fracture close to his eye, walked out of Ankara’s Acibadem Hospital and raised his hand to salute the assembled media earlier than coming into a automobile. The state-run Anadolu Agency mentioned Meler would journey to his house in Izmir, western Turkey, escorted by police for cover.
The hospital’s chief doctor Mehmet Yorubulut informed reporters that the referee’s morale was excessive.
“He has no problems other than the swelling in his eye,” Yorubulut mentioned, including that the fracture would heal in time.
Koca is reported to have informed prosecutors throughout questioning that he merely slapped Meler, accusing the referee of “wrongful decisions” and provocative actions.
He later introduced his resignation.
“I apologize to the Turkish referee and sports community, to the Turkish people and especially to Mr. Meler and his family for the attitude I displayed toward Halil Umut Meler,” he mentioned in an announcement learn by his lawyer late Tuesday.
Media experiences cited Meler as telling prosecutors that the membership president shouted “I will kill you” through the assault and in addition threatened to “finish off” the entire match officers on the pitch.
Violence in soccer is commonplace in Turkey regardless of efforts to clamp down on it, though direct assaults on top-level referees are uncommon.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
