Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Mehmet Büyükekşi held a press conference to address the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler after the MKE Ankaragücü-Çaykur Rizespor match.
In his statement, Büyükekşi stressed that violence in Turkish football is never acceptable. He also expressed his best wishes for Meler's health, who is in good condition.
Büyükekşi said that those responsible for the attack will be punished and that the Disciplinary Committee will be closely involved in the case. He also announced that additional sanctions will be imposed to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Finally, Büyükekşi expressed his hope that these incidents will not be repeated and announced that all league matches will start on Tuesday, December 19.
Büyükekşi's statement came after Meler was attacked by fans after the Ankaragücü-Rizespor match on December 10. Meler was hit in the head with a chair and required medical attention. The incident sparked widespread condemnation from the Turkish football community.
Büyükekşi's announcement that all league matches will start on December 19 is a welcome development for Turkish football. The suspension of league matches had been in place since the attack on Meler.
Büyükekşi's promise to take additional measures to prevent violence in Turkish football is also a positive step. It remains to be seen what these measures will be, but they are a necessary step to ensure the safety of players, officials, and fans.
