A former club chief has been sentenced to jail after brutally attacking a referee in a moment of chaos last year.
A Turkish court has handed down a three-year, seven-month prison sentence to former president of MKE Ankaragucu Faruk Koca for brutally assaulting referee Halil Umut Meler in a 2023 Super Lig match, according to Associated Press.
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The shocking incident occurred after Rizespor's Adolfo Gaich scored a stoppage-time equaliser, prompting Koca to storm onto the pitch and punch the official in the face.
The referee fell to the ground and was kicked by another individual amid the chaos.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF), at the time, condemned the attack as "inhumane" and suspended all Super Lig matches for several weeks.
Meler suffered a small fracture near his eye and was briefly hospitalised.
Ankaragucu, meanwhile, were fined $59,000 (around R1 million) and forced to play five home games behind closed doors.
Koca, who resigned as Ankaragucu president following the incident, was convicted of "intentionally wounding a public official" and threatening the referee.
Three others involved in the assault received prison terms ranging from one to five years.
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The former club president, who was briefly jailed last year before being released on bail, is expected to appeal the verdict. His lawyers claimed "unjust provocation" as a defence.