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Halil Umut Meler, a Turkish referee, has been discharged from the hospital after receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained in an assault at the conclusion of a Super Lig match on Monday.
Meler, who sustained a minor injury under his eye from a blow by MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca following his team’s game against Caykur Rizespor, was captured on camera leaving Acibadem hospital in Ankara.
The TFF, which halted domestic football in Turkey indefinitely following the incident, will convene a board meeting later today to address the situation.
The justice minister of Turkey, Yilmaz Tunc, announced on Tuesday via his X account that Koca was taken into custody “for causing harm and making threats against a public servant while carrying out their official duties.”
Koca subsequently declared his departure as president through Ankaragucu’s designated online platform.
On Tuesday, TFF president Mehmet Buyukeksi and interior minister Ali Yerlikaya paid a visit to Meler at the hospital.
According to Buyukeksi’s statement on the TFF’s X account, “We must not forget this tragic event and instead use it as a turning point.”
After tomorrow’s board meeting, we will provide in-depth information. The meeting will address all concerns and decisions regarding the future of the league will be communicated clearly.
Once more, we express our strong disapproval of the incident on behalf of the Turkish Football Federation’s board of directors and myself. While this unfortunate event has occurred, we cannot allow it to return to its previous state in a matter of two weeks.
Turkey and Italy were granted shared hosting privileges for Euro 2032 in October.
According to Buyukeksi, he has already been guaranteed by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin that Monday’s occurrence has not put the project at risk.
Both FIFA and UEFA have expressed their disapproval of the assault on Meler, who was the referee for West Ham’s first leg of the Europa Conference League semi-final against AZ Alkmaar last season.
The Turkish leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had a conversation with Meler through a phone call.
On Tuesday afternoon, Koca declared his resignation “to avoid causing any additional damage to the Ankaragucu club, its supporters, my community, and my family.”
He stated, “I have high hopes that this event, which I find completely unacceptable, will serve as a catalyst for improvement within our sports world, especially in the football community. Let us strive to eliminate mistakes, shortcomings, and the culture of violence.”
I am also hopeful that this serious incident, caused by me, will bring about a more realistic discussion of the underlying issues in Turkish football.
Source: independent.co.uk
