Ankaragucu president handed permanent ban for punching referee

Faruk Koca, the president of MKE Ankaragucu, has been permanently banned by the Turkish Football Federation for assaulting referee Halil Umut Meler.

After Caykur Rizespor drew 1-1 against Ankaragucu in a Turkish Premier League game, Koca stormed onto the field and punched Meler.

Koca was arrested immediately afterwards.

Read Also: Six of Messi’s shirts from Qatar World Cup sell for $7.8m

In addition to the ban of their president, Ankaragucu was fined two million lira (N54,000,000), and mandated to play five home games with no spectators.

Following the incident on Monday, football in the Turkish league was suspended.

After a one-week break, the Turkish Football Federation has since determined that play will return on Tuesday, December 19.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now