Matches in all Turkish soccer leagues have been suspended indefinitely by the Soccer Affiliation after the membership president punched the referee on the finish of a Tremendous League match on Monday night.
Farouk Koka, Chairman AnkaraJokou, He ran onto the pitch and hit referee Khalil Omut Miller After their Tremendous League match in opposition to Rizespor.
Kuka’s aspect conceded an equalizer within the 97th minute, making certain that Rizespor stayed 4 factors away from their hosts after a 1-1 draw.
Ankaracucu followers stormed the sphere after the match and Miller was additionally kicked when he fell, though it was not clear who his attackers have been. Miller ultimately made it to the locker room with police help.
In a press release issued a number of hours after full-time, the Turkish Soccer Federation mentioned it condemned the “inhuman and despicable” assault on the official.
“We’re intently monitoring Khalil Umut Miller’s well being situation and want our valued referee a speedy restoration.
“This inhuman and despicable assault was carried out in opposition to all events concerned in Turkish soccer. Anybody who focused referees and inspired crimes in opposition to referees is complicit on this despicable crime.
“The irresponsible statements of membership presidents, managers, coaches and tv commentators focusing on referees paved the way in which for this vile assault right now.
“In coordination with our state, all applicable felony measures have been taken in opposition to these accountable and instigators of this inhumane assault.
“The membership accountable, the membership president, his administrators and all of the criminals who attacked Khalil Umut Miller can be punished within the harshest method.
“In accordance with the choice of the Turkish Soccer Federation Board of Administrators, matches in all leagues have been postponed indefinitely.”
The Turkish Soccer Federation (TFF) has determined to carry a rare assembly within the wake of the unrest, the nation’s public broadcaster reported. TRT He mentioned.
The incident shortly reached the extent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was quoted in Turkish media as condemning the assault.
Erdogan mentioned: “I condemn the assault on referee Halil Umut Miller after the match between MKE Ankaragucu and Çekur Rezispor, which was held this night, and I want him a speedy restoration.”
He added, “Sports activities means peace and brotherhood. Sports activities are incompatible with violence. We’ll by no means permit acts of violence to happen in Turkish sports activities.”
An arrest warrant has been issued for Koca, Inside Minister Ali Yerlikaya mentioned in a publish on X, including that two folks have already been arrested as a part of a judicial investigation into the incident.
Two hours after the match ended, the official Ankaracucu FC account on X, previously often called Twitter, issued an apology to the nation’s soccer group for the incident.
The assertion, initially written in Turkish, mentioned: “We at MKE Ankaracucu Sports activities Membership are saddened by the incident that occurred this night.
“We apologize to the Turkish soccer followers and the whole sports activities group for the unhappy incident that occurred after the Kaykur Rizespor match at Eryaman Stadium.”
The 37-year-old Miller, a FIFA referee since 2017, took cost of Lazio’s Champions League group stage match in opposition to Celtic on November 28.
Referees in Turkey are sometimes criticized by membership managers and presidents for his or her choices, however they’re not often the goal of violent assaults.
Ankaracucu ranks eleventh within the Tremendous League with 18 factors, three locations behind Rizespor, who has 22 factors from 15 matches.