Turkish Football Club Ankaragucu Criticizes Jail Sentence for Former President Who Assaulted Referee

Turkish football club Ankaragucu has defended its former president, Faruk Koca, following his jail sentence for assaulting a referee. The referee, Halil Umut Meler, is an official on Uefa’s elite list. On Monday, a court located in the Turkish capital, Ankara, handed Koca, aged 60, a sentence of three years and seven months in prison. The charge was for “intentionally wounding a public official.” Additionally, Koca received a suspended sentence of under a year for making threats and violating laws related to violence in sport. The assault occurred in December 2023, when Koca punched referee Halil Umut Meler in the face after a 1-1 draw with Rizespor. The incident resulted in the official sustaining a fractured eye socket. Meler subsequently fell to the ground and was then kicked by three other individuals. Following the sentencing, Ankaragucu chairman Ismail Mert Firat issued a statement asserting that it was “impossible to interpret the sentence with good intentions.” Firat contended that “no disgraceful crime, external” had been committed and accused the court of yielding to biased public opinion. Ankaragucu reiterated its backing for Koca, highlighting his positive contributions to Turkish football during his three-year tenure as president and referring to him as a “legend.” The club argued that the punishment is disproportionate, given that Koca had resigned from his position and publicly apologized after the assault. In response to the incident, the Turkish Football Federation suspended football activities nationwide for a week and imposed a permanent ban on Koca. Ankaragucu itself was fined two million lira (£54,000) and mandated to play five home matches without spectators. Three other defendants implicated in the attack were given suspended sentences ranging from 15 months to five years. All four individuals are anticipated to appeal the court’s decision, and Koca will not be incarcerated until a higher court delivers a ruling on any appeal.