The referee who was punched and kicked in the face last week has now spoken out on the shocking incident, insisting he "will never forgive" the people responsible.
Turkish Super Lig referee Halil Umut Meler was assaulted by former Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca, who took a swing at the official after his side's domestic encounter with Rizespor earlier this month.
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The punch thrown by Koca resulted in Meler falling to the floor, where he then received vicious kicks to the head in an incident FIFA president Gianni Infantino labelled as "totally unacceptable". The president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also issued a public condemnation of the attack.
After being arrested and heavily criticised for his actions, the former Ankaragucu chief revealed a day later that he would be resigning from his tole and issued a public apology, admitting to feeling "great embarrassment" for his actions.
However, the official has rejected that apology.
"No, I did not forgive [Koca], I will not forgive," Meler told Hurriyet Daily News.
"The person who did this punched me, I collapsed and fell to the ground. But the actual kicking while I was on the ground will be something I will never forget for the rest of my life.
"That's why, in conscience, I will never forgive.
"I will not forgive in any way, I will never forgive those who did it or those who provoked it."
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After all matches were suspended for a week due to the attack on Meler, the Turkish top flight resumed on Tuesday.
However, the league's resumption saw yet more controversy, when the game between Istanbulspor and Trabzonspor was suspended after the former walked off the pitch reportedly in protest of a decision made by a referee.
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