Halil Umut Meler attack

In the MKE Ankaragücü - Çaykur Rizespor match played on December 11, 2023, MKE Ankaragücü president Faruk Koca went down to the field and physically attacked the match referee Halil Umut Meler. Following the incident, all leagues in Turkey were postponed indefinitely by TFF.[1]

The match played on December 11, 2023 ended with a score of 1-1. After referee Halil Umut Meler blew the final whistle of the match, the field went into chaos and MKE Ankaragücü president Faruk Koca came down to the field and punched referee Meler. Meler fell to the ground after the punch and was kicked in the face by Faruk Koca and two unnamed suspects. Due to the blows he received to his face, swelling occurred under Halil Umut Meler's eye and he was taken to the hospital after first aid. TFF decided to hold an emergency meeting after the events, and the Ankara West Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the incident and issued a detention order against Faruk Koca. After the detention, Faruk Koca and the other two suspects were arrested and sent to Ankara Sincan Prison.[2][3] He was released pending trial on December 27, 2023.[4]

 Event

Halil Umut Meler, the referee of the MKE Ankaragücü - Çaykur Rizespor match, sent off the football player Ali Sowe from Ankaragücü with a red card from the second yellow card in the second half and 50th minute of the match. This decision drew reaction from Ankaragücü fans. Umut Meler beat Emirhan Topçu from Rizespor in 90+5. He was sent off from the game with a red card after the second yellow card in the minute. Çaykur Rizespor 90+7. He scored the goal in the minute and brought the match to a 1-1 draw, and the match ended like this.[5][6]

Immediately after the match ended, Faruk Koca went down to the field and punched Halil Umut Meler. Although Meler covered his face after he fell to the ground, other people kicked Meler's face and back. The attack on Meler was tried to be stopped by the 4th referee and other people.[7] Later, Meler was surrounded by security forces. It was determined that Meler's left eye was swollen and the first medical intervention was given on the field. After medical intervention, Meler and the assistant referees were taken to the locker room accompanied by police teams.[8] Meler was taken out of the stadium accompanied by security forces and taken to the hospital by ambulance.[9] The husband was stopped with difficulty and taken to the hospital where Halil Umut Meler was and kept under police escort.[10] Ankaragücü fans supported the attack.[11]

Halil Umut Meler, who was attacked, stated in his statement that the attacker, Faruk Koca, said threatening words to him and his fellow referees at the time of the incident, such as "I will kill you, I will finish you", and that he would not compromise with the attackers, and filed a complaint against Koca and the other two attackers.[12] Meler also said that the club's coach, Emre Belözoğlu, provoked the attack and claimed that he had animosity towards him from the past.[13]


Results




TFF president Mehmet Büyükekşi announced in his statement that he postponed all leagues in Turkey indefinitely.[1]

Faruk Koca, Ş. by Ankara West Criminal Judge of Peace on Duty. Y.S. and K.C. An arrest warrant was issued against him for "injuring a public official in a sports field resulting in a fracture due to his public duty".


Reactions




President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of Internal Affairs Ali Yerlikaya, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Numan Kurtulmuş, AK Party Group Chairman Abdullah Güler, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, İYİ Party Chairman Meral Akşener, Homeland Party Chairman. Muharrem İnce, Future Party Chairman Ahmet Davutoğlu announced that they condemned the attack on Umut Meler.[15]

MKE Ankaragücü apologized for the situation in its press statement.[16] Turkey Active Football Referees and Observers Association, in its statement, called on referees not to attend the matches.[17]

Faruk Koca, a former AK Party deputy, was referred to discipline with a request to be expelled from the party.[18]

The referees visited Umut Meler in the hospital where he was receiving treatment. After the visit, the referees reacted to the attack and referees Arda Kardeşler and Mete Kalkavan made a press statement.[19]

Former referee Ahmet Çakar reacted to the attacker Faruk Koca and two unnamed individuals with harsh words, saying, "I want to see you with handcuffs behind your back, godless people!, Who are you?, Tell us about your relationship with Iran


Journalist Fatih Altaylı reacted to the attack by saying, "If the club president is given the 'Fair Play award' because he is a former Member of Parliament and the founder of the AK Party, that award will come back in the form of a punch."[22]

Galatasaray SK president Dursun Özbek reacted with the words: "The match ended in an unacceptable way, I was literally in shock, it is impossible to understand at all."[23]

CHP spokesperson and vice president Deniz Yücel said, "Faruk Koca's ties with football should be cut immediately!, He is the protagonist of the night of shame for Turkish football!, He is someone who is not even ashamed of the 'Fair Play award' he received!" He reacted harshly with the words


In the world press



The incident was also covered in the world media.





Headlines in world media
Bild: Scandal! The club president beat the referee.[27]
Marca: Brutal attack from Ankaragücü president to Turkey's number 1 referee.[28]
L'Équipe: He severely beat the referee in Ankaragücü.[29]
O Jogo: Shock in Turkish football: The referee was punched by the club president.[30]
A Bola: Ankaragücü president attacked the referee.[31]
Tuttosport: Türkiye is in shock! The club president who punched and kicked the referee was arrested.[32]
Daily Mail: The referee was punched in the face.[33]
NOS: Angry Ankaragücü president knocked down the Turkish referee.[34]
One Football: In the Super League, the referee was punched by the club president and then kicked in the face.[35]
Daily Record: Ankaragücü president punched the Turkish referee.[36]
New York Times: Punching the referee in the face caused a blow to Turkish football.[37]
Al Jazeera: The president of a football club in Turkey was arrested for punching a referee on the field.[38]
The Guardian: The attack on the referee epitomizes the toxic attitude of the Turkish people towards officials.