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A Turkish club president who attacked a referee has been arrested.<\/p>\n
Referee Halil Umut Meler was approached and hit by MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca at the end of the Turkish Super Lig match against Caykur Rizespor.<\/p>\n
Meler was taken to hospital after the attack, with the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspending domestic football in the country indefinitely in the wake of the incident.<\/p>\n
The country\u2019s justice minister, Yilmaz Tunc, said on his X account on Tuesday that Koca had been arrested \u201cfor injuring and threatening a public servant due to his public duty\u201d.<\/p>\n
Meler was visited in hospital in Ankara on Tuesday by TFF president Mehmet Buyukeksi and interior minister Ali Yerlikaya. Buyukeksi said Meler was likely to be discharged on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis sad event should definitely not be forgotten,\u201d Buyukeksi said in quotes reported on the TFF\u2019s X account.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis should be a milestone. Today we will have important meetings. With our minister of youth and sports, with our minister of internal affairs, our minister of justice and our board of directors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will provide detailed information after tomorrow\u2019s board meeting. In this meeting, we will discuss all the issues clearly. We will give detailed information about the decisions we will make about how the league will continue.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s underline again \u2013 we strongly condemn the incident on behalf of the Turkish Football Federation board of directors and myself. This incident happened, but we cannot accept it being back to its old state in two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
In October Turkey was awarded joint hosting rights for Euro 2032 alongside Italy.<\/p>\n
Buyukeksi said he had already received assurances from UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin that Monday\u2019s incident had not jeopardised that project.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no negativity. President Ceferin called and said \u2018We are with you, we are ready to do whatever is necessary\u2019,\u201d Buyukeksi added.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease let us not misinform the public. Our goal is to ensure that football is played properly in Turkey and to continue as quickly as possible without any problems.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut right now, our referee is important, the mental health of our referees is important. Other issues are not important. That is why we are here. We will make the necessary statements later.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meler has refereed in UEFA club competitions, and was in charge of West Ham\u2019s Europa Conference League semi-final first leg against AZ Alkmaar last season.<\/p>\n
UEFA\u2019s chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti condemned the attack and added: \u201cViolence and abuse against referees have no place in football and must stop immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urge the authorities and the responsible disciplinary bodies to take decisive and necessary action against anyone involved in acts of abuse and violence against referees.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch unacceptable and distressing behaviour is detrimental to the efforts of national associations to recruit referees, which are essential for the running of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the attack on Meler was \u201ctotally unacceptable\u201d, adding: \u201cWithout match officials there is no football. Referees, players, fans and staff have to be safe and secure to enjoy the game, and I call on the relevant authorities to ensure that this is strictly implemented and respected at all levels.\u201d<\/p>\n
Turkey\u2019s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Meler on the telephone.<\/p>\n
Erdogan wished Meler a speedy recovery and the referee said, in quotes translated by Sky Sports News: \u201cRight now there\u2019s a fracture under my eye but nothing else. They\u2019re taking really good care of me at the hospital. I am grateful to them. They\u2019re making it easy and comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n