Turkish Super Lig referee Halil Umut Meler has spoken out for the first time since he was punched in the face by Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca.
Meler was released from hospital after three days of treatment for a broken eye following the attack on MKE Ankaragucu president Koca after his team’s match against Caykur Rizespor. He was punched in the face and kicked all over his body while lying on the pitch at the end of the match. However, the 37-year-old referee confirmed he was in good health and was in contact with UEFA over the incident.
Speaking to reporters, Meler said: “There is no health problem: “There is no health problem. UEFA called me. There is no problem at the moment, everything is possible. I just want to go home and rest.”
The chief doctor of Ankara Hospital also spoke: “ He is in a good mood. He has no problems except for a little swelling under his eye. We put a neck brace on him as a precaution. The (cheek) fracture will heal with time, it was a small fracture anyway. There is no more bleeding.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned the incident, calling it “totally unacceptable.” On the other hand, the offender Koca defended himself, suggesting that Meler had “thrown himself to the ground”. The Turkish Super Lig was postponed indefinitely following the attack, but the federation revealed that matches would resume on December 19 after a brief one-week break.
The Turkish Football Federation held an emergency meeting and Mehmet Buykeksi, its president, described the move as “shameful”. The body assured supporters that Meler would return to the field soon after overcoming this setback and promised that all offenders would be “punished in the most severe manner possible.”
