The head of the Football Federation in Turkey announced on Wednesday that it was decided to resume the Turkish league matches that were suspended on Monday after a match between Ankaragucu and Rizespor due to an attack on a referee, on December 19.
Published on: 13/12/2023 – 16:20
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It was decided to resume league matches Turkish Football Which was suspended on Monday after a match between Ankaragucu and Rizespor due to an assault on a referee, on December 19, according to what the head of the game federation announced on Wednesday.
Mehmet Buyukceci, president of the federation, which had announced “the postponement of all meetings indefinitely” on Tuesday, said that all tournaments will resume next Tuesday.
The suspension of league matches came after referee Halil Umut Miller was assaulted by the president of Ankaragucu Club, Faruk Kudja, after the match ended in a 1-1 draw with Rizespor.
Kodja announced his resignation from his position on Tuesday, following the assault incident.
Federation President Büyükükçi indicated the possibility of imposing sanctions on Ankara Gocu.
Despite announcing his resignation, Kodja insisted that his team had been cheated by referee Miller.
“No matter how great the injustice or the extent of the mistake committed by (the referees), nothing can legitimize or explain the violence committed,” Kodja said in a club statement.
“I apologize to the Turkish referees community, the sports fans and our nation,” Kodja continued.
Kodja, a potential mayoral candidate for the capital, punched the referee in the face on the field after the match, severely injuring the referee in the eye.
The referee’s statement included: “Farouk Kodja punched me under my left eye, and I fell to the ground. While I was on the ground, they kicked me in the face and other parts of my body.”
He continued, “Kodja said to me and my fellow referees, ‘I will kill you.’ He went directly to me and said, ‘I will kill you.'”
The incident made all the headlines on the front pages of the most prominent Turkish newspapers.
The attack led to widespread sporting and political reactions, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swiss President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, also condemned what happened.
France 24/AFP
2023-12-13 15:20:17
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