Earlier, during a match in the Turkish Super League, the president of Ankaraguku FC and related personnel rushed into the stadium and beat the referee on duty, which triggered a series of incidents, including the suspension of Turkish leagues at all levels. Recently, the chairman of the FIFA referee committee and the former golden whistle "Eagle Eye" Corina issued a statement in solidarity with the beaten Turkish referee.
In his statement, Collina wrote: "Khalil Umut-Mailer is a very good referee and a very good person. I can say that because I've seen him on the pitch a few times, having spent some time with him at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina earlier this year. Neither he is a referee nor a player, he should not experience such an incident. He was attacked on the pitch yesterday at the end of a match that Ankara had just enforced, while he was doing his duty. The image of Khalil Umut lying on the ground with his head in his hands, being kicked by the attacker, and the image of the bruises under his eyes is horrifying. ”
But what's even more terrifying is that there are thousands of referees around the world who have been verbally and physically abused in low-level matches around the world without reporting it. The vast majority of them are young referees from the early stages of their careers. Just last month, on 28 November, after IFAB's annual business conference in London, I told ** that violence, verbal and physical abuse against referees was a "cancer" that could cost football its life. The referee cannot be beaten for his own decision, even if he makes a mistake. His or her car cannot be blown up or set on fire because of a penalty award. This is not an exaggeration, bombs and cars being set on fire are something that has happened in some countries, and it is not uncommon. ”
As a veteran referee, I am particularly grateful to FIFA President Gianni Infantino for his speech and his personal solidarity. It is incumbent upon all those who love this 'beautiful sport' to take action and do something. While it's still too late, before this cancer kills football. ”