Dec 14, 2023 at 10:07 PM Update: 27 minutes ago
Chairman Faruk Koca of the Turkish club Ankaragücü was banned for life on Thursday. The 59-year-old Koca was punished by the disciplinary committee of the Turkish Football Association for punching down referee Halil Umut Meler.
Koca knocked down Meler on Monday evening after Ankaragücü’s home match against Rizespor (1-1). The chairman was furious about the two red cards that the Turkish top referee gave to Ankaragücü during the match.
After the whistle, Koca ran onto the field and punched Meler in the face. The referee then fell to the ground and was also kicked while he was on the ground.
Meler suffered a black eye from the incident and was allowed to leave the hospital on Wednesday. Investigation showed that there was no further damage.
Koca was arrested after the match and handed in his resignation on Tuesday to prevent further damage to Ankaragücü. The chairman said he was deeply ashamed of his misconduct.
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Bizarre incident in Turkey: chairman knocks down referee
Ankaragücü five games without supporters
In addition to Koca’s suspension, Ankaragücü must pay a fine of 63,000 euros. The club from the Turkish Süper Lig is also not allowed to admit supporters in the next five matches.
Several other Ankaragücü officials also received suspensions and fines from the Turkish association. They were punished for their role in the incident.
Due to the incident, the Turkish association immediately decided to suspend the competition indefinitely. It will resume next Tuesday.
Beeld: Getty Images
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2023-12-14 21:07:00
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