League soccer in Turkey will resume on Tuesday after a quick suspension brought on by a membership president’s assault on a referee. The incident has raised loads of questions on the surroundings in Turkish soccer, together with on-pitch violence in the direction of match officers.
Here are the issues to know in regards to the incident:
What occurred?
The incident occurred when the Turkish Super Lig match between MKA Ankaragucu and Caykur Rizespor led to a 1-1 draw on Monday after a last-minute equaliser from the guests in Ankara. After the full-time whistle, Ankaragucu President Faruk Koca rushed to the pitch with some individuals and knocked out referee Halil Umut Meler with a punch on his face.
The referee was then kicked by individuals within the ensuing melee. Minutes later, he was proven standing up with a black eye. He made his technique to the dugout with the assistance of the police.
Why was the referee attacked?
Koca appeared to be offended on the referee for sending off certainly one of his gamers after which permitting the stoppage-time objective. In a press release, Meler mentioned, “Faruk Koca punched me under my left eye, and I fell to the ground. While I was on the ground, they kicked my face and other parts of my body many times.”
“[He] told me and my fellow referees: ‘I will finish you.’ Addressing me in particular, he said: ‘I will kill you.”
How is the referee now?
The referee was launched from hospital in Ankara on Wednesday, and underwent statement. He additionally acquired a cellphone name from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Who is Faruk Koca?
Koca is a politician, former parliamentarian and an aspiring mayor in Ankara. Also, he’s a member of Erdogan’s AK Party. The occasion has reportedly initiated procedures to expel him. After the incident, he resigned from his function as membership president. In a membership assertion, he mentioned, “No matter how great an injustice or how wrong [the officiating] was, nothing can legitimise or explain the violence that I perpetrated. I apologise to the Turkish refereeing community, the sports public and our nation.”
Official response
Turkish Football Federation (TFF) boss Mehmet Buyukeksi has introduced that penalties shall be given for the incident. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc revealed that Koca has been formally arrested with two different males.
Meanwhile, Turkey President Erdogan wrote on X, previously often known as Twitter, “Sports means peace and brotherhood. The sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence to take place in Turkish sports.”
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
