Club president suspended league football in Turkey after punching a referee.

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has taken a significant action by suspending all football leagues in the wake of a shameful incident during Ankaragucu's Super Lig home match against Rizespor. The club's president, Faruk Koca, physically assaulted referee Halil Umut Meler by punching him in the face after the final whistle, following Rizespor's 97th-minute equalizer in the 1-1 draw at Eryaman Stadium on Monday, as captured by state broadcaster TRT.

In the aftermath, Ankaragucu fans invaded the pitch, with Meler enduring further kicks after falling, though the identities of the assailants remained unclear. With police assistance, Meler eventually reached the dressing room amid the chaotic scene. The Turkish Football Federation, declared the indefinite suspension of all league games and pledged to take strong action against the club, its chairman, officials, and anyone involved in the attack on Meler.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced a detention order for Koca, with two individuals already apprehended as part of a judicial investigation into the incident. TFF Chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi expressed deep disappointment, emphasizing that everyone involved in the incident would face severe consequences. The incident marked an unprecedented low for Turkish football, prompting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to assert that sport should embody peace and brotherhood, condemning violence in Turkish sports.

Referee Halil Umut Meler, a FIFA official since 2017, had previously officiated high-profile matches, including the Champions League group game between Lazio and Celtic. While referees in Turkey often face criticism for their decisions, violent attacks are rare. Ankaragucu, currently positioned 11th in the standings, with 18 points, trails Rizespor, who holds 22 points after 15 matches, by three places. The incident has not only marred the reputation of Ankaragucu but has cast a dark shadow over the integrity of Turkish football as a whole.