Turkish referee attacked by club president leaves hospital

Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler, second left, leaves the Acibadem hospital in Ankara (Ali Unal/AP)

Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler has left hospital after being treated for injuries suffered in an attack at the end of a Super Lig game on Monday.

Meler, who received a small fracture under his eye when hit by MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca after his club’s match against Caykur Rizespor, was pictured leaving the Acibadem hospital in Ankara.

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) suspended domestic football in the country indefinitely in the wake of the incident and on Wednesday confirmed in a press conference that all leagues would resume on December 19.

Meler suffered a small fracture under his eye in the attack (Ali Unal/AP)

TFF president Mehmet Buyukeksi said Meler would not be quitting refereeing because of the attack.

Turkey’s justice minister Yilmaz Tunc said on his X account on Tuesday that Koca had been arrested “for injuring and threatening a public servant due to his public duty”.

Koca later announced his resignation as president via Ankaragucu’s official website.

Meler was visited in hospital on Tuesday by Buyukeksi and interior minister Ali Yerlikaya.

At Wednesday’s press conference, Buyukeksi said the TFF’s disciplinary committee would “do what is necessary and announce its decision on Thursday”.

Meler holds his face as he lies on the ground after being punched by Koca, centre, on Monday (Abdurrahman Antakyali/Depo Photos via AP)

And he said: “Halil Umut Meler is not just a referee for us, but a referee that we are proud of in the international arenas.

“He is a good family man and a good person. And nothing we will talk about today tells us more than the photo of our referee being dragged on the ground