th<\/sup> minute, resulting in a 1-1 draw.<\/p>\nVideos of the incident show Ankaragucu\u2019s president, Faruk Koca, running up to referee Halil Umut Meler and punching him hard in the face, knocking him to the ground.<\/p>\n
Meler received several blows from others as he lay on the ground with his hands over his face before players from both teams intervened to shield the referee.<\/p>\n
"The matches in all leagues have been postponed indefinitely," Turkish FA [TFF] chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi said at a news conference.<\/p>\n
"This attack is a night of shame for Turkish football," he added.<\/p>\n
The incident was also condemned by Turkey\u2019s president, Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan, who said he hoped for a speedy recovery for the referee.<\/p>\n
\u201cI condemn the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler after the MKE Ankaragucu-Caykur Rizespor match played this evening, and I wish him a speedy recovery,\u201d said Mr Erdo\u011fan.<\/p>\n
"Sports means peace and brotherhood. Sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence to take place in Turkish sports."<\/p>\n
Both Meler and Koca were subsequently taken to hospital after the incident.<\/p>\n
Meler suffered injuries on his face, including a minor fracture, and Koca also required unspecified treatment.<\/p>\n
"There is no life threat for the moment. He only has bleeding around his left eye and a small fracture,\u201d said Dr Mehmet Yorubulut, chief physician at the hospital where Meler is being treated.<\/p>\n
"We will [monitor] our referee until the morning due to head trauma. We will discharge him from hospital after the necessary examinations in the morning."<\/p>\n
Turkey\u2019s minister of internal affairs, Ali Yerlikaya, "strongly condemned" the attack and said Koca is in hospital. Asked about what action would be taken by police, he said "detention procedures will be carried out after the treatment" and others have been arrested for their part in the assault.<\/p>\n
Referee Halil Umut Meler lies on the ground at the end the Turkish Super Lig soccer match between MKE Ankaragucu and Caykur Rizespor <\/p>\n
Meler, 37, holds a position on Uefa\u2019s elite list of referees and has officiated in prestigious competitions inclduing the Champions League. He took charge of West Ham\u2019s Conference League semi-final first leg against AZ Alkmaar last season.<\/p>\n
The incident sent shockwaves across Turkey\u2019s football community, with both teams denouncing the assault on the referee.<\/p>\n
Home club MKE Ankaragucu apologised for its president\u2019s behaviour. "We apologise to the Turkish football public and the entire sports community for the sad incident that occurred after the Caykur Rizespor match at Eryaman Stadium,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
Caykur Rizespor expressed support for Meler and said they condemned the assault.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe strongly condemn the undesirable events that occurred after the Ankaragucu match we played today. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe wish for the referee of the match, Halil Umut Meler, to get well soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
TFF said Ankaragucu and its managers \u201cwill be punished most severely\u201d.<\/p>\n
"Football matches are not a war, there is no death at the end. Not all teams can become champions at the same time. We all need to understand this. We invite everyone to take responsibility,\u201d TFF chair Buyukeksi said.<\/p>\n
He added that any penalties would be deliberated upon in the pertinent decision-making committees, starting from Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The Association of Active Football Referees and Observers of Turkey called for protests by all referees, urging them to not take to the field.<\/p>\n
"The violent attack on Meler was not only against our referee Halil Umut Meler but also against the entire referee community,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sign up to Miguel Delaney\u2019s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/p>\n