The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced late yesterday the lifetime suspension of Ankaragücü president Faruk Koca for his savage assault on referee Halil Umut Meler in the capital club’s final match of the 15th round of the Turkish Premier League against Rizespor. Meler, who was released from hospital two days ago after spending several days in hospital and diagnosed with a small fracture near his eye, sparked the ire of Koca and his coaching staff for giving a double yellow card to an Ankaragücü striker and awarding a penalty to Rizespor in stoppage time, which resulted in the match ending in a draw.
In addition to banning Faruk Koca for life from participating in any football-related activity, the TFF – which after the assault on the referee even decided to suspend all football matches in Turkey – also fined Ankaragücü with 2 million liras (about 63,000 euros) and ordered the capital club to play behind closed doors without spectators for the next five matches at its stadium. The Ankaragücü president, who had already resigned shortly after the fatal accident, was subsequently arrested by the police on the instructions of the Minister of Justice and, after questioning, was remanded in custody. The Turkish Professional Football Disciplinary Committee (PFDK) also announced more sanctions against several managers and members of the club, which is currently ranked 11th among the 20 teams playing in the first division of the Turkish League.
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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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