THE former president of Turkish side MKE Ankaragucu has been jailed after attacking a referee last year.
Faruk Koca, 60, punched referee Halil Umut Meler following his team’s 1-1 draw with Caykur Rizespor in December 2023.
GettyFaruk Koca has been jailed after punching a referee[/caption]
EPAThe ex-Ankaragucu chief attacked Halil Umut Meler in December[/caption]
GettyTurkish football was suspended in the wake of the horrific incident[/caption]
GettyMeler suffered a small fracture near his eye[/caption]
The ex-Ankaragucu president was left furious when Rizespor equalised in the seventh minute of injury time.
His frustration then quickly spilled out onto the pitch.
Koca hit Meler in the face just moments after the full-time whistle.
The referee then fell to the floor while others kicked him.
He was later taken to hospital to receive treatment for his injuries, one of which was a small facial fracture.
In the wake of the incident, Turkish football was suspended for several weeks.
Almost one year on, Koca has been sentenced to more than three-and-a-half years in prison.
The court in Ankara convicted him of “intentionally wounding a public official” as well as threatening the referee and violating laws aimed at preventing violence in sports, but those rulings have been suspended.
Prison terms ranging from one to five years were also handed out to three other people.
Koca, who resigned as Ankaragucu chief shortly after the incident, is expected to appeal.
Ankaragucu were fined £45,000 at the time and forced to play five home games without fans.
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