June 30th 2024.
As the highly anticipated Euro 2024 last 16 match between England and Slovakia approaches, football fans may be familiar with the name of the referee who will be overseeing the game. The Three Lions, who have only managed to win one of their three group games and score a mere two goals, are in desperate need of a strong performance and a positive outcome in their game at Gelsenkirchen.
The man in charge of the big match will be Halil Umut Meler from Turkey, a referee who gained global recognition last December for all the wrong reasons. Meler was brutally attacked by a club president after a Super Lig match between MKE Ankaragucu and Caykur Rizespor. The shocking incident took place as Ankaragucu club president Faruk Koca stormed onto the pitch and punched Meler in the jaw.
The referee fell to the ground and was then kicked in the head by two other men who had also entered the field with Koca. Thankfully, players, officials, and security quickly rushed to Meler's aid and he was eventually taken to the hospital. A photo of him in a neck brace and with severe bruises was circulated, making it clear how vicious the attack had been.
Meler's attacker was none other than the club president of the team he had just officiated for. The incident caused widespread outrage and even caught the attention of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who visited Meler in the hospital. FIFA president Gianni Infantino also condemned the violence, stating that there is no place for it in football or in society.
After spending two days in the hospital, Meler returned to the field a month later to resume his duties. Koca issued an apology to Meler and his family before resigning from his position. The 37-year-old referee, who has been officiating in the Turkish Super Lig since 2015 and in the Champions League since 2020, has proven to be resilient and determined to continue doing what he loves.
As for the upcoming match between England and Slovakia, Meler will be assisted by Emre Eyisoy and Kerem Ersoy as assistant referees, with Marco Fritz serving as the video assistant referee. Christian Dingert and Tomasz Kwiatkowski will be the two assistant VARs, while Rade Obrenovic will act as the fourth official. Meler has already refereed two games at Euro 2024, including Slovakia's 1-0 win over Belgium and Austria's 3-1 victory against Poland.
The football world will be watching closely as Meler takes on the responsibility of ensuring a fair and safe game between England and Slovakia. As the saying goes, without match officials, there is no football, and it is crucial for the safety of referees, players, and fans to be prioritized. Let us hope that the game will be a success, both on and off the field.
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