Disgraceful? Turkish club president storms onto the pitch and orders players off

Turkish football was at the heart of another refereeing controversy on Tuesday night after a club president stormed the pitch mid-game and ordered his players to walk off.

The incident comes on the first day of the league's resumption following it's week-long suspension after former Ankaragucu president, last week, went on to the pitch and punched the referee.

Referee Halil Umut Meler was pictured battered and bruised and wearing a neck brace in hospital last Tuesday but, following a series of additional tests, was discharged on Wednesday morning.

Following the match official's release from hospital, it was announced later that day that league football would be suspended until December 19th.

Despite the recent events, it seems little has changed in the attitudes shown towards referees in the Turkish top-flight, after disgraceful scenes saw Istanbulspor president Faik Sarialioglu storming onto the pitch on the first night of the league's resumption.

During the Super Lig clash between Trabzonspor and Istanbulspor, the visitors scored to go 2-1 up through former Southampton striker Paul Onuachu, just moments after Istanbulspor felt they should have been awarded a penalty.

This prompted Istanbulspor's president, in the 74th minute, to make his way onto the pitch and tell the team to withdraw from the match.

A number of the Istanbulspor players were left bemused by Sarialioglu's decision but still abided and, shortly afterwards, the match was officially abandoned.

In a clip, head coach Hakan Yakin can be seen standing on the sidelines in astonishment as his players were ordered to leave the field.

The chaotic scenes come just a week after media outlets branded last Monday's events as a 'night of shame' for Turkish football.

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