ANKARA, Turkey — A Turkish court delivered a sentence on Monday, imposing more than three years of imprisonment on a former high-ranking executive of a football club for his violent actions toward a referee during a match last season.
Faruk Koca, the president of MKE Ankaragucu, physically assaulted referee Halil Umut Meler, punching him in the face right after the conclusion of a Super Lig match against Caykur Rizespor, which ended in a 1-1 tie.
The altercation occurred when fans stormed the field following a last-minute goal from Rizespor on December 11, 2023, leading to a chaotic scene where Meler not only fell but was also subjected to kicks during the mêlée.
This incident sparked widespread condemnation and led to the Turkish Football Federation suspending all league matches for a number of weeks as a response to the violence.
According to reports from the state-run Anadolu Agency, the court in Ankara found Koca guilty of “intentionally wounding a public official” and subsequently imposed a sentence of three years and seven months in prison.
Furthermore, Koca was also charged with threatening the referee and breaching laws designed to combat violence in sports, though the court opted to suspend those additional sentences.
Alongside Koca, three other individuals who faced trial for their involvement in the attack received prison sentences that varied between one to five years, as stated by the agency.
After the incident, Koca stepped down from his role as club president and is reportedly planning to contest the ruling. He had previously spent time in jail before gaining release on bail.
The legal representatives of the defendants had sought their exoneration, arguing that their actions were triggered by “unjust provocation.”
Additionally, Ankaragucu faced a financial penalty of 2 million Turkish Lira (approximately $59,000) and was ordered to play five upcoming home matches without any spectators.
The referee involved, Meler, required brief hospitalization due to a minor fracture sustained near his eye during the incident.