Gianni Infantino demands action after disgraceful scenes that saw Turkish referee punched by club’s president and kicked on the floor… as the FIFA president describes the incident as ‘totally unacceptable’

• READ: Referee in Turkey is punched and kicked at final whistle in the top flight 
• FIFA president Gianni Infantino has condemned the actions from Monday night 
• Have you witnessed abuse of referees? Contact [email protected]

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has slammed the ‘totally unacceptable’ attack on a Turkish referee and demanded for action to be taken. 

Turkish football descended into chaos on Monday night after MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca launched the vicious attack on referee Halil Umut Meler after his side drew 1-1 against Caykur Rizespor in the Super Lig.

Disgraceful images show Koca’s fist connecting with the referee’s cheek just beneath his left eye, sending the official falling to the ground before others then laid into him with a series of kicks. 

The referee has been pictured in a hospital bed sporting a black eye among other facial injuries, while also wearing a neck brace. Meanwhile, the country’s football federation shut down the entire league following a night which the nation’s media labelled as a ‘night of shame’. 

In a message on social media, Infantino has given his reaction, as he said: ‘There is no place for violence in football, on or off the field.

Turkish football descended into chaos on Monday night after MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca launched the vicious attack on referee Halil Umut Meler following a 1-1 draw

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has demanded action and slammed the events as ‘totally unacceptable’

This statement from Infantino was posted on FIFA’s social media accounts on Tuesday

Your browser does not support iframes.

‘Events following the Turkish Super Lig match between MKE Ankaragucu and Cakyur Rizespor are totally unacceptable and have no place in our sport or society.

‘Without match officials, there is no football. Referees, players, fans and staff have to be safe and secure to enjoy the game, and I call on the relevant authorities to ensure that this is strictly implemented and respected at all levels.’

The shocking scenes were condemned by the country’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the aftermath of the match.  

After wishing the referee a speedy recovery, Erdogan said: ‘Sports means peace and brotherhood. Sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence to take place in Turkish sports.’

Fans, as well as club officials, invaded the pitch after Rizespor scored a 97th-minute equaliser.

A large crowd of players, coaching staff and security were quick to race to the scene and stop the attack, with the shaken Meler eventually helped to his feet. After being led away, he was seen sporting a swollen eye. 

Police escorted the referee to safety, and reports have suggested that he said the incident was his fault. 

 It was not immediately clear whether Meler was apologising for the large amount of injury time or the sending off of two players. The match featured eight minutes of injury time and a red card for each side, with Rizespor defender Emirhan Topçu sent off in the 95th minute, two minutes before the equalising goal.

The referee at the centre of the Turkish football shutdown has been pictured for the first time in hospital after he was punched to the ground and kicked in the face at the end of a match

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the stricken referee in hospital on Tuesday

It is understood that the referee was left with a cheek fracture, while Koca – who is reported to have heart problems – was hospitalised as a precaution, but would later taken into custody following treatment, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.

Later, it was reported that Koca – who registered a blood pressure of 190 – had been sent to an Ankara courthouse along with six others involved in the incident. Turkey’s Spor Arena news outlet said Koca and three others were officially arrested.

Meanwhile, the federation announced it suspended all league games indefinitely after an emergency meeting held to discuss the violence.

‘This attack is unfortunate and shameful in the name of football,’ federation chief Mehmet Buyukeksi said after the meeting. ‘We say enough is enough,’ he added, insisting that all involved in the violence would be punished.

Buyukeksi also blamed the attack on a culture of contempt toward referees in Turkey.

The moment that the fist of Faruk Koca, president of MKE Ankaragucu, connects with the face of referee Halil Umut Meler after a Turkish Super Lig match on Monday evening

The match official was sent crashing to the ground after the punch and sustained a black eye

Koca stormed onto the pitch after his side’s draw against Rizespor and assaulted the official

Meler looked to protect his face after the punch while other individuals kicked him on the floor

‘Everyone who has targeted referees and encouraged them to commit crimes is complicit in this despicable attack,’ he said. 

‘The irresponsible statements of club presidents, managers, coaches and television commentators targeting referees have opened the way for this attack.’

Galatasaray president Dursun Aydın Ozbek said on Tuesday ahead of his side’s Champions League match: ‘Such things [like the attack on the referee] should not happen. These incidents, which especially damage the brand value of Turkish football and the image of Turkish football abroad, cause great damage to football. 

‘I was shocked. Why did the president and his friends attack a referee like that? Why do they kick the referee on the ground? It is not possible to understand. 

‘In the following period, the leagues have been suspended, but the Turkish Football Federation, the Union of Clubs and all the clubs will come together and we will do our best to end this somehow and to prevent these incidents from developing in the following period.’

Koca could be seen walking away after the confrontation as others tried to speak to him

A group of players, officials and security guards formed a protective huddle around Meler, who could be seen sporting a swollen eye in the moments shortly after the shocking attack

The unsavoury scenes were captured from multiple angles by photographers and on the live broadcast of the Turkish Super Lig match – the top flight of Turkish football. 

Meler is reported to have since watched the footage back and filed police complaints against everyone involved in the attack. He has also given a statement, according to Turkish media.

They also reported that he had become a father just days ago. It is not known when matches in the division will resume. 

Ankaragucu, meanwhile, has issued an apology to football fans for what it called the ‘sad incident’ that unfolded after the match.

GET IN TOUCH 

We want to hear from refs who have been abused – or parents who have witnessed atrocious behaviour on the touchline

Email us at: [email protected]

In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, the club said: ‘As MKE Ankaragucu Sports Club, we are saddened by the incident that took place this evening. 

‘We apologise to the Turkish football public and the entire sports community for the sad incident that occurred after the Çaykur Rizespor match at Eryaman Stadium.’ 

In its own statement, Rizespor used stronger language, calling for ‘no violence in sports’. The team said: ‘We strongly condemn the undesirable events that occurred after the Ankaragucu match we played today. 

‘We convey our wishes to the entire referee community, especially the referee of the match, Halil Umut Meler, to get well soon.’

Meler has been a Fifa referee since 2017, the AFP news agency reports. Officials in Turkey are often criticised by club managers and presidents for their decisions – but rarely are they on the receiving end of violence. 

Koca, 59, has been the president of Ankaragucu since 2021. He received the Fair Play manager of the month award in October 2022.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Source: Read Full Article