Ankaragücü boss brutally knocks over referee
After the final whistle of the match between Ankaragücü and Rizespor in the Turkish Süper Lig, a scandal breaks out. The boss of Ankaragücü runs towards the referee and knocks him down with a punch to the head. Lying on the ground, he receives further kicks.
Shocking images from Turkey: After the end of the Süper Lig match between Ankaragücü and Rizespor (1:1), the president of the host team burns out. Completely out of his mind, Faruk Koca storms onto the pitch and knocks down referee Halil Umut Meler with a punch. As he fell to the ground, he was kicked in the head by bystanders before security intervened to protect the referee. He was eventually able to get up on his own.
However, the brutal attack had consequences for the 39-year-old. According to international media reports, he suffered head injuries, a fractured cheekbone and a bruise on his eye. As reported by "Kicker" with reference to "beIN Sports", the doctor treating him, Mehmet Yörübulut, said: "There is currently no danger to his life. He has bleeding around his left eye and a small tear there." It is not yet clear exactly what caused the attack. Ankaragücü conceded the equalizer in the 97th minute.
"As MKE Ankaragücü sports club, we are saddened by the incident that took place tonight. We apologize to the Turkish soccer public and the entire sports community," the club announced in an initial statement. The unbelievable attack has legal consequences for the attackers: Koca and the other perpetrators of the violence have been arrested for the time being. This was announced by Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç. According to national media reports, the referees no longer want to compete this week. The association is said to have convened a special meeting.
The head of the association also spoke out in the evening: "First of all, I would like to emphasize that all those who go after the referees at every opportunity and don't know where it will end should think about what happened tonight. Turkish soccer has been dealt a shameful blow. Everyone involved in this incident will pay the price." President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also intervened: "Sport means peace and brotherhood. Sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence to enter Turkish sport," he wrote on X.
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Source: www.ntv.de
