December 11th 2023.
The Turkish Super Lig match between Ankaragucu and Rizespor ended in a draw on Monday evening. But the result was marred by an assault on the match referee, Halil Umut Meler.
After the game, Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca stormed onto the pitch and punched Meler in the face. Two other men then followed suit by kicking Meler in the head while he was still down on the ground. Uros Radakovic, Ankaragucu’s Serbian defender, was among the players who stepped in to protect the referee.
The attack was captured on camera and revealed Meler had suffered severe swelling to his left eye. Osman Aşkın Bak, Turkey’s minister of youth and sports, condemned the attack on Meler. He said, "We do not want to see these images on our fields, which do not suit the spirit of sports and Turkish football."
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and is being investigated by the Turkish Football Federation. The authorities have now promised to take action against anyone found guilty of the attack on the referee. It is a reminder of the importance of respecting the rules of the game and the officials on and off the pitch.
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