A Turkish court has sentenced former Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca to over three and a half years in prison for assaulting a referee during a match last season.
The incident occurred after a 1-1 draw between Ankaragucu and Caykur Rizespor in the Super Lig, when Koca punched referee Halil Umut Meler in the face following the final whistle.
Meler, who fell to the ground, was also kicked in the ensuing chaos, which erupted as fans stormed the pitch after Rizespor’s last-minute equalizer on December 11, 2023.
The attack sparked international outrage and led the Turkish Football Federation to suspend all league matches for several weeks in response.
The Ankara court found Koca guilty of “intentionally wounding a public official” and sentenced him to three years and seven months in prison. Additionally, Koca was convicted of threatening the referee and breaching laws designed to prevent violence in sports, though his sentences for these charges were suspended.
Three other individuals involved in the attack were handed prison sentences ranging from one to five years. Koca, who resigned from his position as president shortly after the incident, is expected to appeal the ruling. He had been briefly incarcerated last year before being released on bail.
Earlier, lawyers representing the defendants requested their acquittal, claiming that they had committed the crime under “unjust provocation,” Anadolu reported.
Ankaragucu was fined 2 million Turkish Lira ($59,000) and forced to play five home games without fans.
The referee was briefly hospitalised with a small fracture near his eye.