Turkish association severely punishes beating president
Faruk Koca hits the referee with his fist after a match in the Turkish Süper Lig. The scandal brings Turkish soccer to a standstill for the time being, and President Erdogan also speaks out in no uncertain terms. The Turkish association takes action.
Following the brutal attack on referee Halil Umut Meler during a first division match, Ankaragücu's ex-president Faruk Koca has been banned for life by the Turkish Football Association. The Ankaragücü club must also pay a fine of around 63,000 euros and will not be allowed to admit spectators to the next five home matches. This was announced by the association.
The reason given was the "incidents on the pitch caused by club members and fans". Other club officials received fines or warnings, among other things. Koca received a five-year ban. According to the association's rules, any ban over three years becomes a permanent ban.
Koca had hit referee Meler in the face with his fist after the final whistle of the match between MKE Ankaragücü and Çaykur Rizespor, as can be seen on videos. Meler then went to the ground and others involved kicked him. Rizespor had scored the equalizer in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Koca resigned on Tuesday evening - after mocking the victim in an initial reaction: "I slapped him, then he threw himself on the floor," Koca said - and obviously lied to everyone. Meler left the hospital again at the beginning of Tuesday.
In response to the incident, all league matches are to be suspended until December 19. The incident 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.
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The Turkish Football Association's lifetime ban on Faruk Koca and Ankaragücü's hefty fine stem from Koca's violent assault on referee Halil Umut Meler during a Turkish Süper Lig match, an incident that caused widespread uproar, including criticism from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Despite the severe punishment, Meler, who was hit in the face by Koca's fist, has since recuperated and returned home from the hospital.
Source: www.ntv.de
