BREAKING NEWS Turkish football club president RESIGNS after hospitalising referee in a shocking on-pitch attack… as he issues an apology for the ‘grave incident’ after initially claiming ‘I only meant to spit at him’
MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca has announced his resignation after his on-pitch attack on referee Halil Umut Meler.
Koca was seen striking Meler’s cheek beneath his left eye after Monday night’s match between Ankaragucu and Caykur Rizespor in the Turkish Super Lig.
The punch sent Meler to the ground, with others then laying into him with a series of kicks as he curled up on the grass covering his face.
Fans also invaded the pitch after Rizespor scored an equaliser seven minutes into eight minutes of injury time, prompting police to escort the referee to safety.
The actions have been condemned nationally by Turkish authorities, with world and European governing bodies FIFA and UEFA also speaking out against the violent scenes.
Meler was punched by Koca and kicked in the head on the ground after a match on Monday
Koca, who has been the president of Ankaragucu since 2021, has now confirmed his resignation in a statement on the club’s website.
The 59-year-old admitted he felt ‘great embarrassment’ for his actions and was stepping down to ‘prevent any further harm’ to the club.
‘I would like to announce to the public that I have resigned from the MKE Ankaragücü Presidency in order to prevent any further harm to the Ankaragücü club, Ankaragücü fans, the community I am in and my family,’ Koca said.
‘I hope that this incident, which I, more than anyone else, cannot accept, will be a reason for our sports life, especially our football community, to be purified from mistakes, shortcomings and the culture of violence.
‘At the same time, I hope that the structural problems of Turkish football will be discussed more realistically due to this grave incident that I caused.
‘I would like to take this opportunity to apologize again to everyone I have upset, especially Ankaragücü fans.
‘I would like it to be known that I am deeply saddened that both the club I manage, the football community, and our country are remembered with such an event and image.’
Koca issued an apology to Meler and his family, as well as the Turkish refereeing community and the nation.
He admitted that attitudes that ‘cast a shadow on fair play’ do not belong in stadiums, adding he had attempted to take constructive initiatives since becoming club president.
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