Faruk Koca (foto: //)
Former Ankaragücü president Faruk Koca sentenced to prison for a violent assault on referee Umut Meler. The attack led to a lifetime football ban and international condemnation.
Faruk Koca, the former president of Ankaragücü, has been sentenced to prison for a violent assault on referee Halil Umut Meler in the Turkish Super Lig. The court handed Koca a three-year and seven-month prison sentence for intentional bodily harm, as reported by Anadolu, Turkey's official news agency.
In addition to the main sentence, Koca received a six-month sentence for issuing threats and a five-month suspended sentence. The court also imposed prison sentences on three other individuals involved in the attack.
The incident took place in December 2023, following a match between Ankaragücü and Rizespor. Koca attacked the referee, striking him in the face—a moment captured on video and widely shared online. As Meler fell to the ground, other individuals involved in the altercation began kicking him in the face, intensifying the brutality of the attack.
The Turkish Football Federation responded swiftly, suspending the league temporarily and banning Koca from Turkish football for life. Following the incident, Koca faced widespread condemnation from both sports and political figures in Turkey and abroad. Shortly afterward, he resigned from his position as Ankaragücü president.
With this court ruling, Koca’s actions have resulted in severe legal consequences, marking a strong message against violence in Turkish football.