A former Ankaragucu manager has reportedly claimed that club president Faruk Koca attacked him during his time at the club, after the Turkish team punched a referee in the face.
Turkish football descended into chaos – on a night the nation’s media labelled as a ‘night of shame’ – on Monday when MKE Ankaragucu president Koca launched the vicious attack on referee Halil Umut Meler after his side drew 1-1 against Caykur Rizespor in the Super Lig.
Abhorrent images show Koca’s fist connecting with the referee’s cheek just beneath his left eye, sending the official falling to the ground.
The referee left the pitch last night and said ‘it’s my fault’ as he was escorted away by riot cops, before the country’s Football Federation shut down the entire league.
Former Ankaragucu manager – Hikmet Karaman (pictured) – has claimed that club president Faruk Koca attacked him during his time at the club
Faruk Koca, president of top-flight football club, connects with the face of referee Halil Umut Meler after a Turkish Super Lig match on Monday evening
Abhorrent scenes started when the president of Ankaragucu punched the referee in the face
Now, in the wake of the attack, a former Ankaragucu manager has come forward and claimed that he was also victim of an attack from the club president.
According to Haberturk, Hikmet Karaman said: ‘Faruk Koca attacked me with a fist while I was coaching Ankaragücü. I did not explain it then, but I am explaining it now.’
Mail Sport have reached out for comment.
Karaman has managed Ankaragucu on three separate occasions with his first stint coming in 2006 – where he remained for just 17 games.
He swiftly returned later that year and remained for 34 games before, once again, leaving in July 2007.
Referee Meler, following the attack, has been pictured in his hospital bed sporting a black eye among other facial injuries, while there are concerns around his neck after multiple people kicked him while he was on the ground.
Reports from the hospital detail how the bleeding in his left eye has started to decrease and the cheek fracture he sustained will ‘gradually heal’. They also said there is no permanent damage following further facial and neurological tests.
Reports added that Meler’s blood pressure increased this morning ‘due to the stress of the incident’.
The stricken referee received a visit from Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.
Speaking from outside the hospital where Meler is recovering, a collective statement was made to reporters on behalf of Super Lig referees.
One of the referees, Arda Kardessler, spoke first and said: ‘Everyone saw what happened last night. Our Federation and MHK stated that they will support us in every decision we make after the incident and postponment of the league.
The referee at the centre of the Turkish football shutdown has been pictured for the first time in hospital after he was punched to the ground and kicked in the face at the end of a match
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the stricken referee in hospital on Tuesday
‘Our only priority right now is Halil Umut Meler’s health and reunion with his family. We stand by Halil Umut Meler. Then, when he regains his health, we will come together as Turkish referees and announce the decisions we will make regarding our future and career.’
Turkey has been totally rocked by the incident, with the league set for a week-long suspension, although that is expected to have no bearing on Galatasaray’s Champions League game away to FC Copenhagen on Tuesday. That game is hugely significant in Manchester United’s group.
Shocking images of the on-pitch sucker-punch showed president Koca’s fist connecting with Meler’s cheek beneath his left eye, sending the official to the ground. Others then laid into him with a series of kicks as he curled up on the grass covering his face.
Fans also invaded the pitch after Rizespor scored an equaliser seven minutes into eight minutes of injury time, prompting police to escort the referee to safety.
