Former Ankaragücü President Faruk Koca was sentenced to 3 years and 7 months in prison for attacking the referee

Last Update:11 November 2024 18:14 IST

The attack on the official occurred following a 1-1 draw between Ankaragücü and visiting Çaykur Rizespor in December 2023. In the footage taken from the scene, Ankaragücü’s then-president Koca is seen running onto the field and punching the referee Halil Umut Meler after blowing the final whistle of the match.

Former Ankaragücü President Faruk Koca attacked referee Halil Umut Meler in December 2023.

The former football chief of the Super League was sentenced to more than three years in prison on Monday for attacking a referee on the field, Anadolu news agency reported.

The incident occurred in December 2023 following a 1-1 draw between Ankara’s MKA Ankaragücü and Çaykur Rizespor in Turkey’s top flight.

In the footage taken from the scene, Ankaragücü’s then-president Faruk Koca, after blowing the final whistle of the match, ran onto the field and said to referee Halil Umut Meler, “I will kill you!” He can be seen shouting.

He appeared angry at the referee’s decision to send off a player and disallowing Ankaragücü’s early goal. Çaykur scored the equalizing goal in the extra time.

Describing the attack as “despicable”, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended Super League matches for eight days and initiated criminal proceedings against Koca and many people.

A few days later, Koca apologized and resigned as club president, but insisted that his team had been deceived by the referee.

On Monday, the court sentenced him to three years and seven months in prison for “deliberately injuring a public sports official” and six months and 20 days in prison for “threatening”.

He was also given a five-month suspended prison sentence for “violating the law on the prevention of violence in sports”.

The referee, who fell to the ground after being punched during the incident, was kicked several times by other club officials and suffered a head injury.

The court also sentenced three other officials to one to five years in prison for “intentional injury” to a public sports official.

The incident sparked uproar in Turkey and drew a barrage of condemnations, including from football’s world governing body FIFA.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP)