VIDEO: Turkish football club president arrested for punching referee

A Turkish court ordered the arrest on Tuesday of Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca for punching a referee in the face at the end of a Super Lig soccer match, the justice minister said after the outbreak of violence in the European top-tier league.

The court also remanded in custody two other suspects over the incident at Ankaragucu's home match against Rizespor on Monday evening, at which referee Halil Umut Meler was also later kicked while lying on the pitch.

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) said it had suspended all leagues after the "shameful" incident in Ankara.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said Koca and two others were formally arrested for "injuring a public official" after prosecutors took statements from them.

"The investigation is continuing meticulously," he said on social media platform X, adding judicial controls were imposed on three other suspects.

Koca entered the field and hit Meler when the final whistle blew after Rizespor scored a 97th minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Eryaman Stadium, footage from state broadcaster TRT showed.

The referee was lying in a hospital bed with a swollen face and a neck brace, footage provided by the ministry showed.
"The bleeding in Meler's left eye started to decrease" and there will be no permanent damage, said Mehmet Yorubulut, chief doctor of Acibadem hospital.

"The fracture there will gradually heal. There is no brain damage," he said, adding he will likely be discharged on Wednesday.
The club president Koca was twice elected to Turkey's parliament as part of President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party.

Reuters