On Thursday, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced that its disciplinary board had imposed a permanent ban on Ankaragucu club president Faruk Koca for assaulting a referee following a game in the country’s top soccer league earlier in the week.
In response to the incident involving fans and club officials during Monday’s match against Rizespor, the TFF board also decreed that Ankaragucu, a top-tier Super Lig club in Turkey, would face a two million lira ($69,000) fine and play five home games without fans.
Several other Ankaragucu officials received bans, cautions, and fines in connection with the altercation.
After Rizespor scored a 97th-minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw, Koca entered the pitch and punched referee Halil Umut Meler in the face. Subsequently, Meler was kicked while lying on the ground.
Koca was arrested the following day, prompting the soccer federation to immediately suspend all matches. It has now been decided that games will resume next Tuesday after a one-week suspension.
While Meler was released from an Ankara hospital on Wednesday with a swollen and darkened eye, he reportedly has no other health issues.