The president of Ankaragucu, who beat a football referee after the match, resigned

Ankaragucu President Faruk Koca, who beat up referee Umut Meler after the Turkish Football Championship match against Rizespor, resigned from his post, the club’s press service reported.

The teams met on Monday and ended with a score of 1:1. After the end of the game, Koca ran onto the field and hit Mehler in the face, after which the referee, who had fallen on the lawn, was kicked. The judge was treated and hospitalized. According to media reports, in the hospital he announced his retirement.

Following the incident, the Turkish Football Federation announced an indefinite suspension of matches in all leagues in the country.

“I apologize to the Turkish refereeing community, the sports community and our people. Whatever the great injustice, nothing can explain the violence that I committed, but which I certainly did not want.

Sports fields should be a place for gentlemanly competition. Any attitude that tarnishes fair play, including my own, is unacceptable in stadiums.

I would like to announce to the public that I have resigned as president of Ankaragucu to prevent further harm to the club, the fans, the community I am in and my family.

I hope that this incident, which I cannot accept, will be an occasion to cleanse our sport, especially our football community, of mistakes, shortcomings and a culture of violence. “I would like to take this opportunity to once again apologize to everyone I have upset, especially the Ankaragucu fans,” Koca said.

Ankaragucu is in 11th place in the Turkish Championship table.