The president of Turkish club Ankaragucu, Faruk Koca, who punched referee Halil Umut Meler in the face after the final whistle of the 15th round match of the national championship against Rizespor (1:1), has resigned.
After the match we played against Çaykur Rizespor last night, due to my attitude towards the referee Halil Umut Meler, who managed the match, Mr. Meler and his family, in particular; I apologize to the Turkish referee community, sports public and our nation. How and why the subject came to this point is independent of the event. No matter how great injustice or wrong it is, nothing can legitimize or explain the violence that I committed, which I definitely did not desire.
"I would like to announce to the public that I have resigned from the MKE Ankaragücü Presidency in order to prevent any further harm to the Ankaragücü club, Ankaragücü fans, the community I am in and my family," the club's press service quoted Koji's statement as saying.
On December 11, Ankaragücü played a 1-1 draw with Rizespor in the 15th round of the Turkish championship in Ankara. After the final whistle, the president of the host club, Faruk Koca, punched head referee Meler in the face on the pitch. The referee fell on the lawn before others began kicking and beating him. Meler was hospitalized after receiving medical attention.
At the hospital, the beaten referee told his colleagues that he decided to end his refereeing career after the beating. On December 12, the Turkish Football Federation officially suspended matches in all divisions indefinitely following the scandalous incident. The president of Ankaragücü was arrested.
