A Turkish Super Lig game erupted in chaos when the match referee was punched by the president of one of the teams before being kicked as he lay on the ground. Ankaragucu’s president, Faruk Koca, struck the referee, Halil Umut Meler, at the end of their home match after Rizespor scored a 97th-minute equaliser. Koca walked on to the pitch and hit the referee when the final whistle blew in the 1-1 draw at Eryaman Stadium. The president of Turkey’s football association, Mehmet Buyukeksi, condemned the event as an ‘inhumane attack’ and announced an indefinite suspension to matches in all Turkish leagues. Koca and two others have been arrested for “injuring a public official”.
Turkish football league suspended after Ankaragucu president punches referee
Ankaragucu president arrested following incident
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