“I condemn the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler after the MKE Ankaragücü-Çaykur Rizespor match that took place this afternoon and wish him a speedy recovery,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a post on Platform X.

“Sports means peace and brotherhood. Sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence in Turkish sports,” he adds.

What happened

An incredible scene happened in the Turkish league on Monday night (11/12), as immediately after the end of Ankaragucu’s match with Rizespor (1-1) for the 15th matchday of the Superlig, the president of the home team, Farouk Koca, entered the pitch and punched the referee Halil Omut Meler in the face!

The home team, in which Tasos Hatzigiovanis and Stelios Kitsiu are competing, had many complaints from the referee for the dismissal of Ali Sove in the 50th minute with a second yellow card, but the situation “escaped” completely.

With the Ankaragutsu strongman attacking the referee and “laying” him on the field with his fist, to be followed by an attack by other members of the home team who began to kick referee Meller wildly while he was down on the pitch.

Meller’s eye was swollen and he was immediately taken to the dressing room to be given first aid by the match doctor, while Ankara fans tried to invade the pitch but were prevented by stadium security.

Tasos Hatzigiovanis played as a substitute in the second half of the match against Rizespor, while Kitsiu stayed on the bench, in a highly episodic game that will have… continuation in the courtrooms.