Soccer

Turkish president calls referee that was brutally assaulted

Halil Umut Meler was attacked by Ankaragucu's president Faruk Koca, who entered the field and punched Meler in the face. The president of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called Meler from his hospital bed.

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Updated on
December 12, 2023 08:28AM EDT

**© Telegraph**Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca ran onto the pitch and struck match official Halil Umut Meler after his team conceded a 97th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Caykur Rizespor.

All soccer leagues in Turkey are officially suspended as a result of wild scenes from the match between Ankaragucu and Rizespor on Monday evening. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, but the story of the day was Ankaragucu’s president Faruk Koca rushing to the field in a rage and punching referee Halil Umut Meler in the face.

Not only that but images have shown that Meler was kicked by various unidentified assailants while he was on the ground holding his hands to his face. Meler suffered a swollen eye because of the attack and needed to be helped back to the dressing room by police.

The Turkish Football Federation did not hesitate to take harsh action by the barbaric act of a club president and formally suspended all activity indefinitely. In a statement the TFF stated, “The related club, the club chairman, club officials and all those guilty of attacking referee Umut Meler will be punished in the strongest terms possible.”

Turkey president calls Halil Umut Meler

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Disgusted by what he saw, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tweeted: “Sport means peace and brotherhood. Sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence to take place in Turkish sports.”

Laying in his hospital bed with a neck brace, Meler received a call from Erdogan who told the battered referee, “We are truly very, very sad, may God give you health… It saddened me in a serious way to watch such things.”

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Meler told the president that he was being taken care of in the hospital and thanked the leader for his call. Pundits from all over the world have condemned the actions that took place and the TFF is set to issue unprecedented punishment for what happened to Meler.

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Meler is a well-respected referee who has officiated at the Champions League level, while Ankaragucu’s president Faruk Koca was twice elected to Turkey’s parliament as part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party and was arrested after the attack according to reports.

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Kelvin Loyola

Kelvin Loyola is a seasoned content writer and journalist at Bolavip, boasting over 15 years of experience in sports journalism and marketing. He has covered a wide array of sports including the USMNT, MLS, Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1, and Liga MX, as well as the NBA, MLB, NHL, and various entertainment topics. Prior to his journalism and marketing career, Kelvin worked in post-production, contributing to numerous movie, television, and digital projects. He also brings expertise in project management, social media, and web development. A graduate of Queens College with a degree in Media Studies, Kelvin is bilingual, fluent in both English and Spanish. His passions extend beyond his career to include soccer, marketing, photography, surfing, and pop culture, particularly comics.