ollowing a top-tier match on Monday, a club president attacked the referee, resulting in the suspension of all leagues in Turkey.

Faruk Koca, the president of MKE Ankaragucu, struck Halil Umut Meler when he rushed onto the field following his team’s 1-1 Super Lig draw with Caykur Rizespor and allowed an equalizer in the 97th minute.







"All league matches have been postponed indefinitely," Turkish FA [TFF] head Mehmet Buyukeksi said at a press conference.


"This attack is a night of shame for Turkish football," he said.



Fifa President Gianni Infantino branded the event "completely unacceptable" and stated that violence had "no place in our sport or society."


"Without match officials there is no football," that's what he stated. "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."


Meler took many strikes from others while lying on the field and sustained injuries, including a small fracture.

The event prompted chaos among players and club executives.

Koca required hospital care, but "detention procedures will be carried out after the treatment," according to Turkey's interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya.
Others, Yerlikaya said, had been arrested for their roles in the event, which he "strongly condemned."
Meler, 37, is a prominent referee in Turkey who officiates international games for Fifa. He is also on Uefa's list of top referees.








He also required medical care, and Dr. Mehmet Yorubulut, chief physician at the hospital where he was treated, stated, "There is no life threat at the moment." He merely has a tiny fracture and bleeding around his left eye.


"Due to head trauma, we will [monitor] our referee until the morning." We will discharge him from the hospital in the morning following the appropriate examinations."


'An inhumane and terrible assault'

Following the horrifying sights, the country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, spoke out. "I condemn the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler after the MKE Ankaragucu-Çaykur Rizespor match played this evening, and I wish him a speedy recovery," he was quoted as saying.


"Sports symbolises peace and brotherhood." Sport and violence are incompatible. We will never tolerate violence.




"We are saddened by the incident that occurred this evening," said MKE Ankaragucu's president in a statement.


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


"We strongly condemn the undesirable events that occurred after the Ankaragucu match we played today," Caykur Rizespor said in a statement.


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



"All the criminal proceedings they deserve have begun in coordination with our State against those responsible and instigators of this inhumane attack." The responsible club, its president, its management, and all crooks who attacked Meler will be severely punished."


Galatasaray, one of the country's largest clubs, has already called for an emergency meeting to allow clubs to address what they claim is a growing problem in Turkish football.


"We must all come together today and act to solve the problems that we are a part of," Galatasaray said in a statement.















The Turkish Association of Active Football Referees and Observers urged all officials not to take the pitch, saying, "The violent attack on Meler was not only against our referee Halil Umut Meler, but also against the entire referee community."

The Turkish Super Lig Professional Football teams Foundation denounced the attack and stated that the teams were "prepared to take all necessary steps to prevent violent incidents."

BBC source






The TFF took a firm course of action with the intention of making Turkish football a safer place.


"Football matches are not a war, there is no death at the end," TFF chairman Buyukeksi remarked. Not all teams can win the title at the same time. This is something that we must all grasp. We encourage everyone to take on responsibilities.


"[Ankaragucu] and its managers will be punished most severely."


He stated that the sanctions will be debated in the relevant decision-making bodies beginning Tuesday.


The TFF said in a statement about the "inhumane and despicable attack" that "the irresponsible statements of club presidents, managers, coaches, and TV commentators targeting referees paved the way for today's vile attack."