The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) decided this Thursday to disqualify Faruk Koca, president of Ankaragücü, for life from participating in any football-related activity, who attacked a referee last Monday. The Disciplinary Council of Turkish Football decided to punish Koca with a five-year ban, a measure that "once exceeding three years becomes permanent," the TFF announced in a statement.
Faruk Koca, who, ironically, was awarded the 'fair play' award in 2022 by the Turkish Super Lig (Turkish football league), is currently in preventive detention since Tuesday for having punched referee Halil Umut Meler at the end of Ankaragücü's match against Rizespor, all for calling a penalty against the locals in the last minutes of last Monday's match.
The case has caused a huge scandal in Turkey, for showing, in the opinion of many experts, the lack of respect for the referees and the feeling of impunity that people like Koca, a businessman and former deputy of the ruling party, the Islamist AKP, have. In its first reaction, the TFF had suspended the matches of all football leagues in the country, but the competitions will resume next Tuesday.
The TFF also imposed on Ankaragücü, whose fans invaded the grass and joined in the attack on Meler, a fine of two million lire (about 65,000 euros) and the team must play the next five home competition games without spectators.
Meler, who suffered a bruise under his left eye from Koca's punch, was released from the hospital on Wednesday and, according to the federation, is expected to continue serving as a referee.
In addition to Koca, four club directors have received a reprimand and two of them have received fines and suspensions of between 45 and 75 days, while two employees who joined in the attack will also be banned for life.
