Turkish club chief's attack on referee sparks call for government action

ANKARA : This week's shocking attack on a referee by a club president has thrust the entire culture of Turkish football into the spotlight, with the escalating issues of political influence and disrespect for officials at the heart of the debate.

The whole sport was stunned on Monday as Faruk Koca, the president of top flight club Ankaragucu, punched the referee Halil Umut Meler at the end of the match, with other officials kicking the referee in the head while he was on the ground.

All league football in Turkey was postponed for a week and Koca was banned from football for life, while Super Lig club Ankaragucu were ordered to pay a two million lira ($69,000) fine and play five home games without fans.

The assault drew swift condemnation from various quarters, including Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, soccer's world governing body FIFA, the Turkish Football Federation and media.

Headlines such as "A punch of shame" and "Scandal" have made the front pages, reflecting the gravity of the situation amid calls for the government to ensure even tougher sanctions.

Koca, a former politician and an old friend of Erdogan's, could face a prison sentence of more than 10 years. Two other officials have also been arrested for their role in the assault.

The attack came two months after Turkey was awarded joint hosting rights with Italy for the 2032 European Championship and although UEFA says it is a domestic issue for the Turkish federation to deal with, it hardly enhances their reputation.

"These kind of incidents cause irreversible and incredible harm to the value of Turkish football," former Besiktas and Turkey midfielder Ali Gultekin said.

"The incident may be unprecedented but definitely not unexpected, given the escalating criticism