Turkish football is set to resume next week after the gamer was called to a halt across all leagues earlier this week following an attack on a referee.
Media outlets branded Monday night a ‘night of shame’ – when MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca launched a vicious attack on Halil Umut Meler after his side drew 1-1 against Caykur Rizespor in the Super Lig.
After the club president punched him in the face at the final whistle, he was also seen being kicked in the head while lying prone on the floor as the chaos unwound around him.
Meler was pictured battered and bruised and wearing a neck brace in hospital on Tuesday but following a series of additional tests, he was discharged on Wednesday morning.
Following the match official’s release from hospital, it was announced later on Wednesday that league football would be able to resume across Turkey.
Halil Umut Meler was sent crashing to the ground after the punch from Faruk Koca and sustained a black eye
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
Mail Sport has launched a campaign to stop the abuse of referees at all levels of the game
‘We have decided to postpone the matches in all leagues. All leagues will restart on Tuesday, December 19th,’ said Turkish Football Federation President Mehmet Buyukeksi.
He added: ‘The main mission of all of us is to keep football ahead of everything else and to protect it as an area where all stakeholders feel safe. There is no room for violence in this attitude.
‘What happened in the Ankaragücü – Rizespor match is completely unacceptable.
‘We remind you that we will have zero tolerance in any such incident on or off the field, and that we will not allow attacks or disproportionate pressure on our referees, who are an important part of the game.’
The president of the Turkish FA also gave an update on Meler, claiming that the official was ‘getting better’.
He was discharged with a reported swelling and small fracture, as pictures showed him waving to a crowd gathered outside the hospital’s entrance, still sporting a black eye on his left side.
Fans also invaded the pitch after Rizespor scored an equaliser seven minutes into eight minutes of injury time, prompting police to escort the referee to safety.
CNN Türk Istanbul News Director Nihat Uludag detailed on air how two of those who have been detained for kicking the referee in the head gained entry to the match via VIP tickets. Both fans are said to be ‘known’ to the club as they now are the subject of police enquiries.
Meler looked to protect his face after the punch while other individuals kicked him on the floor
Despite being on the receiving end of the attack, Turkish media reported Meler as saying ‘Thank you, it’s my fault’ to the police as he exited. It was not immediately clear whether Meler was apologising for the large amount of injury time or the sending off of two players.
Koca – who is reported to have heart problems – was also hospitalised as a precaution, but would later be taken into custody following treatment, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.
The Turkish Football Federation swiftly announced it was suspending 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 Buyukeksi said after the meeting earlier this week.
‘We say enough is enough,’ he added, insisting that all involved in the violence would be punished.
While at hospital, Meler received Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a visitor from his bed on Tuesday.
‘We would like to thank our Ministers of Justice, Internal Affairs, Youth and Sports who took quick action regarding the incident,’ the federation president continued on Wednesday.
‘We took action by reforming Turkish football in a short time. Just as we were united that day, we need to be united today too. The Legal Consultancy made the referrals. The TFF Disciplinary Board will announce its decision on Thursday.’
It was also confirmed that matches scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week will be moved to the week of January 10.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
