Life ban, three arrested after Turkish club president punches referee in sickening assault
A Turkish football club president has received a life ban from football and is one of three people arrested following a sickening attack on a referee in Turkey’s Super Lig.
11th-placed Ankaragucu drew 1-1 with Rizespor in a heated clash, with the hosts taking the lead in the 14th minute. Referee Halil Umut Meler then controversially sent off an Ankaragucu player in the second half for accumulating two yellow cads, the latter for a relatively innocuous incident.
Rizespor received a 95th-minute red card, only to stun the home side with a 97th minute equaliser.
When the full time whistle blew, Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca charged onto the pitch and punched Halil Umut Meler in the face.
As the referee hit the turf, another person kicked him in the head.
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Players and staff from both teams rushed to protect the referee while Koca was led away.
Koca was also reportedly attacked after sparking the brawl.
Turkish interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said: “Faruk Koca is being treated in the hospital under the supervision of our police forces. After the treatment, detention procedures will be carried out.”
All Super Lig matches were suspended after the incident, while a Turkish court on Tuesday ordered police to arrest Koca. Two other suspects have also been arrested, according to justice minister Yilmaz Tunc. The trio have been charged with “injuring a public official”.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has handed Koca a life ban, while the club has been fined two million lira ($81,000) fine and will play five home games without fans.
Koca has also resigned from his post.
“Sports means peace and brotherhood. Sport is incompatible with violence,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a social media statement on Monday.
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