Turkish football in turmoil: Referee assault sparks crisis, Super Lig matches indefinitely suspended (WATCH)

By Ovaise Shariff | First Published Dec 12, 2023, 9:36 PM IST

Turkey's football is in disarray as a shocking on-field assault on referee Halil Umut Meler by Ankaragucu club president Faruk Koca plunges the Super Lig into crisis.

Turkey's football faced a severe crisis on Tuesday following a shocking on-field attack on a referee by a club president, who had been considered a potential mayoral candidate for Ankara. The top-tier Super Lig took the drastic step of indefinitely suspending matches, while Ankaragucu club president Faruk Koca and two others were placed in pre-trial detention for "injuring and threatening a public official" by a court. The incident occurred on Monday night when Koca, visibly upset over a stoppage-time penalty decision, rushed onto the pitch, punching referee Halil Umut Meler after the final whistle.

ATTACK ON THE REFEREE IN !!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/uzb2cWDZdf

— NOW (@JamilyKhabir)

🇹🇷 Turkish Football Federation president Mehmet Büyükekşi has confirmed that all leagues in Turkey are postponed indefinitely following a shocking attack on referee Halil Umut Meler. pic.twitter.com/bcd90nykG8

— ᴾʳᵒᵐᶻʸ (@Promzyurguy)

What does Turkish law say over the attack on referees of the football matches? +++ pic.twitter.com/SAIoeZCxMi

— JournoTurk (@journoturk)

Images showed Meler with a black eye and swelling, and he claimed Koca had threatened his life. The Turkish Football Federation condemned the "vile attack," leading to the suspension of all matches. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for calm, emphasising that sports should promote peace and brotherhood, not violence. This unsettling incident sheds light on the deep-rooted passion and occasional violence in Turkish football, where the sport is intricately linked to political and social dynamics.

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