After the club president attacks the referee, football in Turkey is halted indefinitely

Professional football in Turkey has come to a halt following an incident where a prominent referee, Halil Umut Meler, was assaulted by the president of MKE Ankaragucu, Faruk Koca, after a match in the country's top league.

Meler was attacked and punched by Koca at the end of the game, leading to a chaotic scene with players and officials either participating in the chaos or attempting to intervene. While on the ground, Meler was also kicked in the head at least once.

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has strongly condemned the attack and declared an indefinite suspension of all matches. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized that sports should embody "peace and brotherhood."

The TFF attributed the incident to a toxic culture towards referees cultivated by players and club officials over the years. The federation stated that the attack was a result of irresponsible statements made by club presidents, managers, coaches, and TV commentators targeting referees. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against those responsible for the attack.

Both Meler and Koca were taken to the hospital, with Koca expected to be detained after treatment. MKE Ankaragucu issued an apology for the incident on social media, expressing regret to the Turkish football public and the entire sports community.

Meler, a 37-year-old referee on UEFA's elite list, had officiated West Ham's Conference League semi-final first leg against AZ Alkmaar last season. President Erdogan condemned the attack and wished Meler a speedy recovery, emphasizing that sports and violence are incompatible and that violence will not be tolerated in Turkish sports.