Faruk Koca has been banned for life by the Turkish Football Association after his attack on referee Halil Umut Meler. Other officials of MKE Ankaragücü were also punished
After his brutal attack on referee Halil Umut Meler after the match against Çaykur Rizespor, the penalty against the perpetrator Faruk Koca has now been determined. The ex-president of MKE Ankaragücü has been banned for life by the Turkish Football Association. This was announced by the TFF on Thursday evening.
Ankaragücü must also pay a fine of around 63,000 euros for “incidents on the pitch caused by club members and fans” and will not be allowed to admit spectators to the next five home matches. Other club officials were also fined or warned
Further activities in soccer excluded
Koca had hit referee Meler in the face with his fist after the final whistle of the match between Ankaragücü and Rizespor (1:1). Meler went to the ground as a result and other people kicked him. The referee subsequently had to be treated in hospital for a fractured cheekbone and head trauma, but has since been discharged.
Koca, who was initially taken into custody after his attack, apologized on Tuesday evening and drew his first personal consequences by resigning from the presidency. He has now received a five-year ban, which, according to the association’s rules, which stipulate that any ban over three years becomes a permanent ban, rules out further activities in soccer for life.
In response to the incident, all league matches were also suspended until December 19. The attack caused great outrage beyond Turkey’s borders. Former star referee Pierluigi Collina and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, among others, strongly condemned the attack, as did Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
