• Hausa Edition
  • Podcast
  • Conferences
  • LeVogue Magazine
  • Business News
  • Print Advert Rates
  • Online Advert Rates
  • Contact Us
Saturday, July 5, 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
8 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

NOC Commences Construction Of Permanent Secretariat In Abuja

NOC Women’s Commission Launches 2nd National Sports Seminar

40 minutes ago
Slum2Stardom, FCT FA Sign MoU To Launch Annual Grassroots Football Awards

Slum2Stardom, FCT FA Sign MoU To Launch Annual Grassroots Football Awards

44 minutes 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

BREAKING NEWS: Nigerians can now earn US Dollars from the comfort of their homes with Ultra-Premium domains, acquire them for as low as $1700 and profit as much as $25,000. Click here to learn how you can earn US Dollars consistently.


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

NOC Commences Construction Of Permanent Secretariat In Abuja
Sport

NOC Women’s Commission Launches 2nd National Sports Seminar

2025/07/05
Slum2Stardom, FCT FA Sign MoU To Launch Annual Grassroots Football Awards
Sport

Slum2Stardom, FCT FA Sign MoU To Launch Annual Grassroots Football Awards

2025/07/05
Oshoala, Echegini Opt Out Of Super Falcons Clash With Cape Verde
Sport

WAFCON 2024: Oshoala Target 10th Title With Super Falcons

2025/07/05
AFCON: Musa Wants Nigerians To Unite Beyond Football Pitch
Sport

Gov Yusuf Appoints Ahmed Musa As General Manager Of Kano Pillars

2025/07/04
Euro 2024: UEFA Open To Bid For 26-man Squads
Sport

UEFA Slams Fines On Chelsea, Aston Villa, Barca, Others For Breach Of FFP

2025/07/04
Athletic Aim To Keep Nico Williams Amid Premier League Interest
Football

Nico Williams Snub Barcelona, Signs 10-yr Athletic Bilbao Deal

2025/07/04
Leadership Conference advertisement

LATEST

After Court Order, Senate Sets Conditions For Reinstatement Of Sen Akpoti-Uduaghan

COVID-19 Fraud: US Court Jails Nigerian Pastor As Osun Monarch Forfeits Property 

Breaking Barriers: Why Regional Integration Is West Africa’s Economic Lifeline

Edo Revenue Board Widens Tax Net

2025 Hive Africa Summit: Nigeria, 20 Others Make Waves In Lusaka

NOC Women’s Commission Launches 2nd National Sports Seminar

Slum2Stardom, FCT FA Sign MoU To Launch Annual Grassroots Football Awards

Firm Launches Digital Platform To Promote Nigerian Culture, Tourism Sector

Gov Adeleke Dismisses Rumoured Defection To APC

WAFCON 2024: Oshoala Target 10th Title With Super Falcons

© 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.