Turkey suspends all league video games after membership president punches referee at a top-flight match

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Turkish Football Federation has suspended all league video games within the nation after a membership president punched the referee within the face on the finish of a top-flight match.

MKE Ankaragucu President Faruk Koca attacked referee Halil Umut Meler on the pitch late Monday after the ultimate whistle, following a 1-1 attract a Super Lig sport in opposition to Caykur Rizespor.

The referee, who fell to the bottom, was additionally kicked in a melee that occurred after followers additionally invaded the pitch after Rizespor scored a last-minute equalizer.

The federation introduced it suspended all league video games indefinitely after an emergency assembly held to debate the violence.

Meler was hospitalized with a slight fracture close to his eye however was not in a severe situation. He was anticipated to be discharged on Wednesday.

Koca, who was thought-about to be prone to a coronary heart assault, was additionally hospitalized in a single day. He was ordered arrested pending trial on prices of injuring a public official after questioning by prosecutors, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc introduced on X, the platform previously often known as Twitter.

Two suspects accused of kicking Meler had been additionally arrested whereas three others had been free of custody given that they report commonly to police.

During his questioning, Koca denied inflicting any damage, insisting that he merely slapped the referee, based on HaberTurk tv. The membership president additionally blamed the incident on Meler, whom he accused of “wrongful decisions” and provocative acts, the station reported, citing unnamed judicial officers.

“This attack is unfortunate and shameful in the name of football,” federation chief Mehmet Buyukeksi mentioned after the emergency assembly.

“We say enough is enough,” he added, insisting that every one concerned within the violence could be punished.

Buyukeksi additionally blamed the assault on a tradition of contempt towards referees in Turkey.

“Everyone who has targeted referees and encouraged them to commit crimes is complicit in this despicable attack,” he mentioned. “The irresponsible statements of club presidents, managers, coaches and television commentators targeting referees have opened the way for this attack.”

Speaking to reporters after visiting Meler in hospital, Buyukeksi mentioned he hoped the incident would develop into a “milestone” for change for soccer in Turkey, which has been chosen to co-host the 2032 European Championship with Italy.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan additionally condemned the assault.

“Sports means peace and brotherhood. The sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence to take place in Turkish sports,” he wrote on X.

Violence in soccer is commonplace in Turkey and another European international locations regardless of efforts to crack down on it.

On Monday, Greece introduced that every one top-flight soccer matches could be performed with out followers within the stadiums for the following two months following a sport-related riot final week that left a police officer with life-threatening accidents.

Earlier this month, France’s sports activities minister referred to as for “a global and extraordinarily determined to response” to violence in soccer after the loss of life of a fan. Ameli Oudea-Castera mentioned the measures might embrace routine bans on followers touring to away matches that current a danger of violence.

The season in France has been affected by homophobic and racist chanting within the stands whereas a crew bus was pelted with stones and a sport was referred to as off due to crowd hassle.

In one other current incident, 4 British law enforcement officials had been injured after heavy clashes with Polish hooligans from Legia Warsaw earlier than a Europa Conference League sport in opposition to Aston Villa on Nov. 30. Nearly 50 Polish followers had been arrested after violence erupted exterior the stadium.

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Angela Charlton and Jerome Pugmire in Paris contributed.