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A former Turkish football club president has been sentenced to over three years in prison for punching a referee after a football match last season.

Turkish football club president sentenced to over 3 years in prison for punching referee | Pulse Ghana

Mandela Anuvabe

<p><a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/jose-mourinho-says-turkish-football-is-dark-and-smells-bad-after-fenerbahce-3-2-win/rpz80e7">The president</a> of MKE Ankaragucu, Faruk Koca, struck referee Halil Umut Meler in the face during the final whistle of last year's Super Lig match against Caykur Rizespor, which ended in a 1-1 tie.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Turkish court sentenced the former top executive to almost three and a half years in prison on Monday for assaulting the referee on the field following the conclusion of a top-flight league match the previous season.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After Rizespor scored a last-minute equalizer on December 11, 2023, fans stormed the field, kicking Meler as he lay to the ground.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A Turkish court sentenced former Ankaragücü president Faruk Koca to over three and a half years in prison on Monday for assaulting a referee after a league match last season.<br> <a href="https://t.co/LCV0SMNi7H">pic.twitter.com/LCV0SMNi7H</a></p>&mdash; All Sportz 🏀⚽ (@Allsportztv) <a href="https://twitter.com/Allsportztv/status/1855981031645712552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Turkish Football Federation suspended all league games for a few weeks as a result of the incident, which sparked outrage around the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, Koca was found guilty of <em>"intentionally wounding a public official"</em> by the Ankara court and given a three-year, seven-month prison sentence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The court deferred Koca's sentencing but found him guilty of threatening the referee and breaking regulations meant to deter violence in sports.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Other perpetrators also found guilty&nbsp;</h2>

<p>According to the agency, three further defendants who were also on trial for assaulting the referee received prison sentences ranging from one to five years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;It is anticipated that Koca, who quit as club president shortly after the incident, would appeal the decision. Last year, he was briefly detained before being freed on bail.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The defendants' attorneys had earlier asked for their acquittal, arguing that the offense was done under<em> "unjust provocation,"</em> according to Anadolu.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>In addition to having to play five home games without supporters, Ankaragucu was fined 2 million Turkish Lira ($59,000).&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/video-referee-2-assistants-run-for-their-lives-as-soldiers-of-military-team-chase/wkl8e8j">The referee</a> was admitted to the hospital for a short while due to a minor fracture close to his eye.&nbsp;</p>

Turkish football club President sentenced to over 3 years in prison for punching referee

Turkish football club president sentenced to over 3 years in prison for punching referee

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