A Turkish referee was discharged Wednesday from a hospital where he was treated for a facial fracture after being punched by the president of a top-flight soccer club, The Associated Press reported.
The attack led to the Turkish Football Federation suspending all league games.
MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca attacked Halil Umut Meler on the pitch after the final whistle of a 1-1 draw in a Super Lig home game against Caykur Rizespor on Monday. The referee, who fell to the ground, was also kicked in a melee that occurred when fans invaded the pitch after Rizespor scored a last-minute equalizer.
Koca and two other people have been placed under pretrial detention, facing charges of causing injury to a public official.
Meler, who was treated for a fracture near his eye, walked out of Ankara’s Acibadem Hospital and raised his hand to salute the assembled media before entering a vehicle. The state-run Anadolu Agency said Meler would travel to his home in Izmir, western Türkiye, escorted by police for protection.
The hospital’s chief physician Mehmet Yorubulut told reporters that the referee's morale was high.
“He has no problems other than the swelling in his eye,” Yorubulut said, adding that the fracture would heal in time.
Koca is reported to have told prosecutors during questioning that he merely slapped Meler, accusing the referee of “wrongful decisions” and provocative actions.
He later announced his resignation.
