Soccer-Turkish Club Chief’s Attack on Referee Sparks Call for Government Action
The whole sport was stunned on Monday as Faruk Koca, the president of top-flight club Ankaragucu, punched referee Halil Umut Meler at the end of the match, with other officials kicking the referee in the head while he was on the ground.
All league football in Turkey was postponed for a week, and Koca was banned from football for life. Super Lig club Ankaragucu was ordered to pay a two million lira ($69,000) fine and play five home games without fans.
The assault drew swift condemnation from various quarters, including Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, soccer’s world governing body FIFA, the Turkish Football Federation, and media.
A punch of shame and Scandal have made the front pages, reflecting the gravity of the situation amid calls for the government to ensure even tougher sanctions.
Koca, a former politician and an old friend of Erdogan’s, could face a prison sentence of more than 10 years. Two other officials have also been arrested for their role in the assault.
The attack came two months after Turkey was awarded joint hosting rights with Italy for the 2032 European Championship, and although UEFA says it is a domestic issue for the Turkish federation to deal with, it hardly enhances their reputation.
The incident may be unprecedented but definitely not unexpected, given the escalating criticism and even threats against referees, said former Besiktas and Turkey midfielder Ali Gultekin.
Prominent referee Ali Palabiyik, who has officiated in the Champions League and other major competitions, quit this year at 42 following public criticism of his mistakes during matches.
The number of referees in Turkey is decreasing by the day due to pressure from the federation. We should learn to respect referees, or it will become difficult to find referees to be assigned to matches, Palabiyik said.
Hugh Dallas, the Super Lig’s head of referee education, was in the stadium when the incident happened and has called for governments to take action.
There has to be legislation and punishments put in place for clubs, players, owners, or whoever when they behave in such a manner because it definitely can’t continue, Dallas told the BBC.
Former FIFA referee Selcuk Dereli agreed that the crisis was predictable, saying the attack should prompt Turkish football to look in the mirror.
Dereli pointed to the deeply intertwined relationship between politics and football in Turkey, implicating the government’s overreaching influence in various aspects of the sport.
Gultekin and Dereli said the toxic culture within Turkish football had been exploited by clubs, each vying to garner support from fans and expand their following, with the targeting of referees often a convenient scapegoat for poor results.
The attack has also added to the growing concerns about the diminishing respect for referees across Europe, a trend exacerbated by the problematic implementation of VAR.
Referee relations in Turkey have been strained, with personal details of officials, including background, affiliations, and officiating records, often becoming the subject of intense scrutiny and social media posts.
The incident marks a terrifying low point for Turkish football, raising serious concerns about the state of the sport in the country. The attack on the referee was a shocking display of violence that has no place in sports, said an anonymous FIFA spokesperson.
The incident has placed a spotlight on the need for systemic changes, with experts and officials calling for stricter legislation, strong punishments, and a separation of politics from football governance.
The escalating criticism and threats against referees are indicative of a wider problem within Turkish football, where the toxic culture and undue influence from political powers have eroded the sport’s integrity and independence.
It is imperative for Turkish football to address these issues urgently to restore faith and respect among players, clubs, fans, and the international community.
As the investigation into the incident continues, it remains to be seen how Turkish football will navigate this crisis and implement measures to prevent a recurrence of such shocking acts of violence.
