Turkish football yesterday said enough about the violent attack suffered by the international referee Halil Umut Meler (37 years old) at the end of the match between Ankaragücü and Rizespor of the 15th day of the Superliga, the country’s highest category, which is played at the Eryaman Stadium in Ankara. The Federation took the unusual and exemplary decision to postpone without a return date the matches of all leagues after watching the president of the local team, Faruk Koca, punch the referee in the face, who already lying on the grass from the blow, he received two kicks, one in the face and one in the chest, from two other individuals. A shameful scene for the Ottoman country that caused the immediate reaction of ordinary justice and the public repulsion of the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Ankaragücü fans protested the expulsion with a second yellow card of the striker Ali Sowe in the 50th minute and the visiting team sealed the final draw (1-1) with a goal in extremis in the 97th minute. “We strongly condemn this vile and inhumane attack”, expressed in the first instance the Federation, which continued its message promising “the most serious punishment” towards the aggressors and the club they represent, in addition to labeling as “accomplices of this crime all who encourage attacks on referees: club presidents, managers, coaches, players and television commentators”.

After the final whistle, the manager of the host club jumped onto the field of play with a large group of people, which also included fans, who raged over Halil Umut Meler, who was only freed from lynching by later police intervention. Crossing the limits of the field of play, the referee already under cover, although with his left eye swollen and purple, the shameful episode became a matter of State. “I condemn the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler and I wish him a speedy recovery. Sport means peace and brotherhood. Sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow there to be violence in Turkish sports”, President Erdogan wrote on social networks, who then spoke to the victim by phone through the mobile phone of the Minister of the Interior, Ali Yerlikaya, who was taken to the hospital where the referee was served. “We are so sorry. We are disappointed. We will do whatever it takes,” the top political leader told the referee, lying in bed with a collar around his neck and a fracture detected under his injured eye. Erdogan’s words did not fall on deaf ears. The Minister of Sports, Osman Askin Bak, also present at the medical center, assured that they will continue to fight violence in football, while the head of the portfolio of Justice, Yilmaz Tunç, announced the preventive arrest of Faruk Koca along with with five other suspects and the opening of an investigation.

The rejection of the aggression crossed Turkish borders. “There is absolutely no place for violence in football. The events are completely unacceptable”, said Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA. In Spain, the Technical Committee of Referees of the Federation expressed its “unconditional support” to his fellow professional, a regular referee in Champions League matches who this season has officiated, among other matches, the triumph of Real Madrid against the Braga at the Santiago Bernabéu (3-0). The duel in the Spanish capital could be one of Halil Umut Meler’s last matches, as several reports indicate that he would have announced his withdrawal internally.

For his part, Faruk Koca, who was also treated in hospital for heart problems, resigned from his position as president and apologized for his aggression. “No matter how great the injustice, nothing can legitimize or explain the violence I committed, which I definitely did not want,” he explained in a note published on the website of the team, currently in 11th position in the Superliga . The businessman, 59 years old, two years ago became the president of Ankaragücü, a club founded in 1910, and between 2002 and 2011 he was a deputy of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), founded by Erdo?an He now faces a criminal conviction from the courts after damaging the image of football in Turkey, which will host Euro 2032.