The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced earlier today the indefinite suspension of all football matches in all leagues in Turkey, following yesterday’s brutal assault on a referee during the 15th round of the first division match in Ankara between Ankaragücü and Rizespor. “We have suspended all matches in all leagues, indefinitely. This aggression is a disgrace for Turkish football. Turkish football does not deserve this, we say enough is enough,” TFF president Mehmet Büyükekşi told reporters after an emergency board meeting.
It was not only Ankaragücü president Faruk Koca who jumped onto the pitch after the match and punched the referee, Halil Umut Meler; but at least two other members of the team’s coaching staff also kicked the referee in the face as he was laying on the ground, in shock after the attack.
Meler had to be escorted off the pitch and was admitted to hospital for observation, but is expected to be discharged today. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that an arrest warrant has already been issued for a number of those involved including the Ankaragücü president, who was arrested this morning and is already in prison.
“Turkish football has received a shame slap in the face,” said the TFF president. “The club, its president, its managers, and all those guilty of attacking referee Umut Meler, will be punished in the most severe way possible,” added Büyükekşi, who also charged those who encourage attacks on referees. “Anyone who encourages aggression against referees is complicit in this despicable crime. Club presidents, executives, coaches, players and TV commentators who attack referees in their statements, are perpetrators of this attack. Let us not degrade the image of Turkish football any further. Let us not embarrass ourselves in front of the rest of the world,” he added.
Not only in the world of sport and football in Turkey, but also in politics, the savage assault on the Ankaragücü-Rizespor referee has unleashed the harshest criticism, starting with the country’s president: “Sport means peace and brotherhood. Sport is not compatible with violence. We will never allow violence to take place in Turkish sport,” Erdoğan said. The new opposition leader Özgür Özel also unequivocally condemned the incident and called for immediate action against violence in sports.
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Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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