Ex-Turkish club president handed prison sentence for punching referee on the field after Super Lig clash

Ex-Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca punched referee Hamil Umut Meler in the face after a 1-1 draw with Caykur Rizespor in the Super Lig in December 2023. Now, according to the Associated Press, a court in Ankara convicted Koca of "intentionally wounding a public official" and sentenced him to three years and seven months in jail.

The incident caused outrage across the world, with the Turkish Football Federation suspending all league games for several weeks. Koca resigned as club president soon after the incident, which left the referee with a small fracture near his eye. The court stated he was also convicted of threatening the official and of violating laws aimed at preventing violence in sports - but those sentences were suspended.

Ankaragucu were fined two million Turkish Lira (£45,000) and forced to play five games without fans as a result of the melee, which came soon after Rizespor scored a last minute equaliser. They were relegated from the Turkish top-flight later that season.

The court added that three other people who were also on trial for attacking the referee were sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to five years. Reports suggest Koca intends to appeal the verdict.