Ankaragücü president sentenced to more than three years in prison

Former Turkish Premier League club Ankaragücü president Faruk Koca has been sentenced to three years and seven months in prison for assaulting and threatening to kill referee Halil Umut Meler in December last year during the final stretch of a 1-1 draw against Rizespor in the Turkish Premier League.

The club’s director was also sentenced to six months and 20 days for “threatening” and five months for “failing to comply with laws on the prevention of violence in sport,” but the sentences were suspended. The director had already been banned from Turkish football for life last year. Faruk Koca stepped down as Ankaragücü president the day after the events went viral.

The former Ankaragücü president stormed onto the pitch after Rizespor scored the equalizer. Faruk Koca was visibly angered by the fact that a penalty was not awarded in the ensuing play and punched the referee.

Halil Meler had to be hospitalized after receiving a phone call at the hospital from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.