By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
The President, Faruk Koca, of the Turkish Football Club, MKE Ankaragucu, has been arrested after he ran onto the pitch and struck the referee.
The incident happened after his team conceded a 97th minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw in a Super Lig match with Caykur Rizespor on 11 December 2023.
As a result, the President of the Turkish Football Federation, Mehmet Buyukeksi, has suspended football matches in all of the Turkish Leagues indefinitely, and stated that “this attack is a night of shame for Turkish football!” He added that severe sanctions will be discussed and imposed on Ankaragucu and its managers.
The FIFA President described the incident as “totally unacceptable” and added that “violence has no place in our sport or society.”
The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, condemned the attack on the referee, and stated that:
“Sports means peace and brotherhood. Sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence to take place in Turkish sports.”
The Turkish Super Lig Professional Football Clubs Foundation also condemned the attack and stated that clubs were: “ready to take all steps to prevent violent incidents.”
The Turkish Referees’ Association called for a boycott, stating that an attack on one of their referees was also an attack “against the entire referee community.”
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘