Referee Hospitalized After Being Punched And Kicked In Head On "Night Of Shame For Turkish Football"

The president of Turkish Super Lig club MKE Ankaragucu ran onto the field and punched the referee following a game against Caykur Rizespor on Monday.
Faruk Koca forcefully struck referee Halil Umut Meler in the face with his clenched right fist, knocking the official to the ground.
While he was on the floor, another man kicked Meler in the head before he was able to get to his feet.
Meler - who is one of Turkey's top officials and is on UEFA's elite referee list - was pictured with a black eye moments after the assault.
He was later taken to hospital, where he was kept overnight.


Absolutely crazy scenes between Ankaragucu’s 1-1 draw with Rizespor.
— Ali (@RoyMustang786) December 11, 2023
Halil Umut Meler, stood with his assistants at the final whistle, Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca knocks him out!
Ironically Faruk Koca won the Turkish Super Lig' fairplay award in 2022 💀#AGvÇRS 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/GFb5HW2pOd
Turkish football leagues suspended indefinitely after Ankaragucu president punches referee#UEFA #Zahara #DJSbu pic.twitter.com/GJMEUN2AfM
— PSL BEYOND FOOTBALL (@GooodVeee4127) December 12, 2023
Dr Mehmet Yorubulut, the chief physician of the hospital, said on Monday night: "There is no life threat for the moment. He only has bleeding around his left eye and a small fracture.
"We will [monitor] our referee until the morning due to head trauma. We will discharge him from hospital after the necessary examinations in the morning."
The shocking attacks on Meler came after Rizespor had scored a 97th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Ankaragucu's Eryaman Stadium.
Turkish Football Federation chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi told a news conference on Monday evening that all league matches in the country would be "postponed indefinitely" and said it had been "a night of shame for Turkish football".
Buyukeksi added: "Football matches are not a war, there is no death at the end. Not all teams can become champions at the same time. We all need to understand this. We invite everyone to take responsibility.
"[Ankaragucu] and its managers will be punished most severely."

The country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also commented. He said: "I condemn the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler after the MKE Ankaragucu-Caykur Rizespor match played this evening, and I wish him a speedy recovery.
"Sports means peace and brotherhood. Sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence to take place in Turkish sports."
A club statement issued by MKE Ankaragucu read: "We are saddened by the incident that took place this evening.
"We apologize to the Turkish football public and the entire sports community for the sad incident that occurred after the Caykur Rizespor match at Eryaman Stadium."