Turkish Super Lig club president who attacked referee handed lifetime ban
Former Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca has been handed a lifetime ban by the Turkish FA after punching a referee earlier this week.
Koca rushed onto the pitch with a group of men following the draw with Caykur Rizespor on Monday. He approached referee Halil Umut Meler and punched him, with the match official hospitalised after falling to the ground and being kicked several times during the ensuing melee.
The club boss appeared to have been left furious at Meler's decision to send off a Ankaragucu player before awarding a goal deep in stoppage time. Koca subsequently resigned from his post as Ankaragucu president, with the Turkish FA suspending all football in the country.
According to ESPN, the Turkish FA have followed that up by handing Koca a lifetime ban. Ankaragucu have also been ordered to play five home matches behind closed doors and fined more than £50,000.
Turkey's justice minister Yilmaz Tunchas also announced that Koca had been arrested "for injuring and threatening a public servant due to his public duty". Meler was discharged from hospital on Wednesday, with Koca apologising to the referee in a statement.
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"After the match we played against Çaykur Rizespor last night, due to my attitude towards the referee Halil Umut Meler, who managed the match, Mr. Meler and his family, in particular; I apologise to the Turkish referee community, sports public and our nation," he said.
"How and why the subject came to this point is independent of the event. No matter how great injustice or wrong it is, nothing can legitimise or explain the violence that I committed, which I definitely did not desire.
Meler was hospitalised after the attack"Sports fields should be the venue for gentlemanly competition. Any attitude that casts a shadow on fair play, including my own, should not be present in stadiums or halls.
"I would like to take this opportunity to apologise again to everyone I have upset. I would like it to be known that I am deeply saddened that both the club I manage, the football community, and our country are remembered with such an event and image."
Immediately after the incident, the Turkish FA condemned Koca and postponed all professional football. They have since laid out a timetable for its return, having branded Koca's actions a "vile attack".
"We strongly condemn the inhumane and despicable attack on Halil Umut Meler. This vile attack was not only made against Halil Umut Meler. Today, this inhumane and despicable attack was made against all stakeholders of Turkish Football," a statement read.
"Everyone who has targeted referees and encouraged crimes against referees is complicit in this despicable crime. The irresponsible statements of club presidents, managers, coaches and TV commentators targeting referees have paved the way for this vile attack today.
"In coordination with our State, all the criminal proceedings they deserve have been initiated against those responsible and instigators of this inhumane attack. The responsible club, the Club President, its managers and all criminals who attacked Halil Umut Meler will be punished in the most severe way."
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