Turkish club president punches Super Lig referee in face

Turkish club president punches Super Lig referee in face،

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended all leagues in a night of “shame” for national football after Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca punched the referee in the face at the end of the match at home Super Lig against Rizespor.

A Turkish court ordered Koca's arrest after he entered the field and punched referee Halil Umut Meler at the final whistle after Rizespor equalized in the 97th minute in the 1-1 draw at the Eryaman Stadium on Monday, footage from state broadcaster TRT showed. Two other people were also officially arrested for “injuring a public official,” Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said.

Ankaragucu fans invaded the pitch after the match and Meler was also kicked when he fell, although it was unclear who his attackers were. Meler eventually managed to get to the locker room with the help of the police.

In an interview with the official Anadolu news agency, Meler said Koca had also threatened him and his colleagues.

“Faruk Koca punched me under the left eye; I fell to the ground. While I was on the ground, other people kicked me in the face and others body parts repeatedly,” he said.

“Koca told me and my colleagues: 'I'm going to finish you off'. Turning to me, he said: 'I'm going to kill you'.”

Footage later provided by the Turkish government showed Meler lying in a hospital bed with a swollen face and a neck brace.

“The bleeding in Meler's left eye has started to subside” and there will be no permanent damage, said Mehmet Yorubulut, chief physician at Acibadem Hospital.

“The fracture will gradually heal. There is no brain damage,” he added.

The Turkish Football Federation did not say when the season would resume but said “all those guilty of attacking referee Umut Meler will be punished in the harshest possible terms.