Attack on referee - League matches in Turkey suspended until December 19
Following the brutal attack on referee Halil Umut Meler during a first division match in Turkey, all league matches are to be suspended until December 19. This was announced by the head of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), Mehmet Büyükeksi.
The Turkish government is also evaluating changes to the law, Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced on the X platform.
There were violent scenes after the match on Monday evening. The president of the Ankaragücü club, Faruk Koca, hit Meler in the face with his fist after the final whistle, as can be seen on videos. Meler then went to the ground and others involved kicked him. Rizespor had scored the 1-1 equalizer in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Koca resigned on Tuesday evening. According to the state agency, Koca's successor will be Ismail Mert Firat.
According to the media, Meler later said that Koca had threatened to kill him. The incident had caused great outrage beyond Turkey's borders. Former star referee Pierluigi Collina and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, among others, strongly condemned the attack. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also condemned the attack.
In the past, Koca was a member of parliament for Erdogan's party. An arrest warrant was issued against club boss Koca and other suspects on Tuesday, including for "injuring a public servant". Numerous athletes and politicians condemned the scenes from the league match.
Meanwhile, the injured referee was released from hospital. He suffered injuries to his eye and head trauma, said the doctor treating him.
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- The suspension of league games in Turkey until December 19 is a direct response to the violent incident during a league game, specifically the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler in Istanbul.
- The violent scenes that ensued after the match in Istanbul, including Faruk Koca's punch to Meler's face, have sparked condemnation not only in Turkey but also from international soccer figures such as Pierluigi Collina and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
- Faruk Koca, the president of the Ankaragücü club, was not only involved in the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler during a league game in Istanbul but also threatened to kill him, according to Meler's subsequent statements.
- The Halil Umut Melerler, the umpires' associations in Turkey, have expressed their outrage over the attack on their colleague during a league game in Istanbul and called for stricter measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
- The incident during the league game in Istanbul has sparked a discussion in Turkey about the need for changes to the law to address violence and threats towards referees, with the Turkish government and Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc evaluating possible solutions.
Source: www.stern.de
