The president of top-tier Turkish soccer club Ankaragucu was arrested on Tuesday after punching a referee right in the face at the end of a match. The club’s Faruk Koca was captured on video sprinting onto the field and throwing a huge punch that landed on referee Halil Umut Meler’s left eye. Meler was left with a fractured eye socket but is expected to recover. The referee reportedly told police that Koca had also threatened him. Koca is expected to be taken into custody after he has been treated at a hospital for a possible heart attack.
The incident came after a fiery game between Ankaragucu and Rizespor in the Super Lig, Turkey’s premier league. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Olimpiu Morutan scoring for the home team before Rizespor scored a last-minute equaliser in injury time. The bad-tempered game saw both teams have players sent off.
Angry supporters then ran onto the pitch and attacked the referee. Police then rushed to the scene and dispersed the crowd. The incident was broadcast live on television and sparked outrage in the country. The head of the country’s football association said it was a “night of shame for Turkish football.” The Turkish Football Federation paused all games, and the club’s president was arrested after he punched the official in the face. Two other people were also formally arrested for attacking the official.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said Koca and the two other suspects had been formally arrested for “injuring a public official.” He added that prosecutors had also taken statements from the referee and two other people involved in the incident.
Meler, a referee for 15 years, was hospitalized with a fractured eye socket and a swollen face. Doctors say the bleeding in his eye has started to decrease, and there is no permanent damage. He is expected to be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday.
The UEFA Referees’ Committee chairman, Pierluigi Collina, described the incident as a “horrific assault on an individual carrying out his duties in good faith.” He added that club presidents and managers often criticise referees, but they should not be subject to violent attacks.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the violence in a tweet, saying, “Sports mean peace and brotherhood. We will never allow violence in our soccer.” World football’s governing body FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that the attack was “totally unacceptable” and that violence had no place in football or society.