• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Monday, July 28, 2025
Leadership Newspapers
Read in Hausa
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Leadership Newspapers
No Result
View All Result

Former Turkish Club Chief Imprisoned For Punching Referee

by Leadership News
9 months ago
in Sport
AA's Best Pictures of 2023: Faruk Koca, President of MKE Ankaragucu throws a punch to the referee Halil Umut Meler after the Turkish Super Lig week 15 football match between MKE Ankaragucu and Rizespor at Eryaman Stadium in Ankara, Turkiye on December 11, 2023. The match ended 1-1. Emin Sansar / Anadolu (Photo by Emin Sansar / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP)

AA's Best Pictures of 2023: Faruk Koca, President of MKE Ankaragucu throws a punch to the referee Halil Umut Meler after the Turkish Super Lig week 15 football match between MKE Ankaragucu and Rizespor at Eryaman Stadium in Ankara, Turkiye on December 11, 2023. The match ended 1-1. Emin Sansar / Anadolu (Photo by Emin Sansar / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP)

Share on WhatsAppShare on FacebookShare on XTelegram

A Turkish court sentenced a former top-flight football club executive to more than three and a half years in prison on Monday for attacking a referee on the pitch at the end of a league game last season.

Advertisement

Former Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca punched referee Halil Umut Meler in the face after the final whistle of a 1-1 draw in a Super Lig game against Caykur Rizespor last year.

Meler, who fell to the ground, was also kicked in a melee that occurred when fans also invaded the field after Rizespor scored a last-minute equaliser on Dec. 11, 2023.

The incident had caused global outrage and prompted the Turkish Football Federation to suspend all league games for several weeks.

The court in Ankara convicted Koca of “intentionally wounding a public official” and sentenced him to three years and seven months in prison, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

RELATED

WAFCON 2024: Enabulele Hails Super Falcons For Historic 10th Title Win

Mission X: NFF Plans Motorcade Welcome For Super Falcons In Abuja

13 hours ago
2023: Power Shift To South Non-negotiable, Say Jonathan’s Kinsmen

WAFCON: ‘You’ve Made Us Proud’, Jonathan Celebrates Super Falcons

17 hours ago

The court also convicted Koca of threatening the referee and of violating laws aimed at preventing violence in sports but suspended the sentences.

Three other people who were also on trial for attacking the referee, were sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to five years, the agency reported.

Koca, who resigned as club president soon after the incident, is expected to appeal the verdict. He was briefly jailed last year before being released on bail.

Earlier, lawyers representing the defendants requested their acquittal, claiming that they had committed the crime under “unjust provocation,” Anadolu reported.

Ankaragucu was fined 2 million Turkish Lira ($59,000) and forced to play five home games without fans.

The referee was briefly hospitalised with a small fracture near his eye.


We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →

Join Our WhatsApp Channel




SendShareTweetShare
Previous Post

Barca Rule Out Lewandowski For 10 Days, Yamal Up To 3 Weeks

Next Post

New Terror Group: UNAA Calls For Increased Action By Nigerian Gov’t

Leadership News

Leadership News

You May Like

WAFCON 2024: Enabulele Hails Super Falcons For Historic 10th Title Win
Sport

Mission X: NFF Plans Motorcade Welcome For Super Falcons In Abuja

2025/07/27
2023: Power Shift To South Non-negotiable, Say Jonathan’s Kinsmen
Sport

WAFCON: ‘You’ve Made Us Proud’, Jonathan Celebrates Super Falcons

2025/07/27
Naira Design: We’ll Shame Enemies Of Nigeria, Says Pro – Tinubu Group
Sport

Falcons’ Victory: Nigeria Coming Back On Global Stage, Says Olawepo-Hashim

2025/07/27
WAFCON 2024: Enabulele Hails Super Falcons For Historic 10th Title Win
Sport

Barau Hails Super Falcons’ Historic 10th WAFCON Victory

2025/07/27
FIFA Opens Major Africa Office In Rabat
Sport

FIFA Opens Major Africa Office In Rabat

2025/07/27
Tinubu To Falcons: ‘Safe Journey Home, Bring The Trophy To Abuja
Sport

Tinubu To Falcons: ‘Safe Journey Home, Bring The Trophy To Abuja

2025/07/27
Leadership Conference advertisement

LATEST

FG Launches N10m Tertiary Institution Staff Fund

No Crack In Our Ranks – Senate

BAT Nigeria Calls For Export Reforms To Boost Economic Growth

ActionAid Reaffirms Commitment To Rural Development, Digital Empowerment

Brother Tackles Fayose Over Power To Chose Next Ekiti Governor

Taraba APC Chieftain Debunks Defecting To ADC

Cross-border Ticket Sales Shrink Domestic Travel Market By 40%

IPOB Denies Involvement In Mbano Killings

CP-PDP Backs Zoning PDP Presidential Ticket To South

Metuh Seeks Statutory Provision On Zoning, Defection

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Football
  • Others
    • LeVogue Magazine
    • Conferences
    • National Economy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Leadership Media Group - All Rights Reserved.