Ex-Turkish club president Faruk Koca is handed a LIFETIME ban for hospitalising a referee in shocking on-pitch attack – with his old club having to play five games behind-closed-doors and given fine
- The Turkish Football Federation has banned Faruk Koçu for life.
- This happened after he attacked the referee in the MKE Ankaragucu match against Rizespor.
- “No greater waste of time!” What is the point of the Club World Cup? It all begins
The disgraced former president of Turkish club Ankaragucu was handed a life ban by the Turkish Football Federation on Thursday after punching a referee following a game earlier this week.
The Turkish Football Federation’s disciplinary board also ordered Ankaragucu to play five home matches behind closed doors and fined the club 60,000 euros ($66,000).
Club boss Faruk Koca ran onto the pitch with a group of men after Ankaragucu’s draw with Caykur Rizespor on Monday and punched referee Halil Umut Meler after he blew the final whistle.
Koca, who had been touted as a possible candidate for mayor of Ankara, subsequently resigned from his post and all Turkish league matches were suspended until 19 December.
Koca appeared angry with Mehler for sending off one of his players and then scoring in stoppage time.
Former MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca has been handed a life ban by the Turkish Football Federation.
This comes after he hit referee Halil Umut Meler on the head during his team’s game against Rizespor on Monday.
Following the blow, the match official fell to the ground and suffered a black eye.
Mehler fell to the ground and was kicked several times in the ensuing hand-to-hand combat.
“Sport means peace and brotherhood. “Sport is incompatible with violence,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a statement on social media on Monday.
According to Turkish press reports, Koca also quit Erdogan’s ruling AKP party.
Earlier this year, Koca told a reporter that he might consider running for mayor of Ankara as an AKP candidate in closely watched municipal elections scheduled for March 31.
Mehler was discharged from Ankara hospital on Wednesday morning and spoke to reporters about his release, telling them he was fine despite a few bruises.