Turkish referee beaten club president resigns embarrassed after attacking match officials

Mondo Sports Updated on 2024-01-29

Farouk Koka said he was "embarrassed" and "saddened" by his actions at the end of the country's top league match on Monday. He was charged with "hurting and threatening public servants".

The president of a top football club in Turkey resigned after knocking the referee to the ground after the match.

The same is trueFarouk Koca said he was "embarrassed" and "saddened" by the incident.

On Monday, the chairman of Ankaraguku beat referee Khalil Umut Meler at the end of a match in the country's highest league.

The punch sparked a scuffle between the players and the **, either joining the chaos or trying to intervene.

When Mailer was lying on the ground, he was also kicked in the head at least.

Koca announced his resignation in a statement at the club.

There is nothing that can legitimize or explain the violence I committed," he said.

The sports field should be a place for gentlemen to compete. Anything that casts a shadow over fair play, including my own, should not be in the stadium. He said.

Meller was hospitalized with a minor fracture near the eye, but it was not serious.

In this game, he sent off one player each in the Super League and then equalised in the seventh minute of injury time to make it 1-1.

TurkeyJustice Minister Yilmaz Tunk said Koca was convicted of "injuring and threatening a public servant in the course of his official duties".

The two suspects accused of kicking Mailer are also **. The other three were released on the condition that they report to ** regularly.

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has suspended all leagues indefinitely.

In a statement, it condemned the attack and blamed it on the toxic culture against referees that players and clubs have cultivated over the years.

"The irresponsible remarks made by club presidents, managers, coaches and TV commentators against referees paved the way for this despicable attack today," TFF said. ”

TFF Chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi, who visited the hospital in Melle with Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, said it should be seen as a "milestone".

Turkey's **Recep Tayyip Erdogan** wished Meylor an early ** during the conversation.

Erdogan wrote on X: "Sport means peace and brotherhood. ”

The sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence in Turkish sports. ”

The 37-year-old is on UEFA's elite list and was in charge of West Ham's semi-final first leg against AZ Alkmaar last season.

In October, Turkey, along with Italy, won the co-hosting rights for Euro 2032.

The TFF president said he had received assurances from UEFA president Alexander Seferin that Monday's incident would not jeopardize this.

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