December 14 – FIFA’s top refereeing administrator, former World Cup official Pierluigi Collina (pictured), has hit out at last Monday’s attack on Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler that made global headlines.
Collina, head of FIFA’s refereeing committee, said the assault by the president of top-flight club Ankaragucu, Faruk Koca, was an example of the “cancer” that is wrecking the game.
Ankaragucu conceded a 97th minute equaliser in their Super Lig clash against Rizespor before Koca and others rushed the field and assaulted Meler. A Turkish court immediately ordered Koca’s arrest following the incident.
In a statement, Collina said: “Speaking to media after the IFAB Annual Business Meeting in London just last month, on November 28, I said that violence, verbal and physical abuse against referees is a ‘cancer’ that may cost football its life.
“A referee cannot be beaten because of a decision they took, even if it’s wrong. His or her car cannot be bombed or set on fire because of a penalty kick.
“Unfortunately this is not an exaggeration, as cars bombs and cars being set on fire is something that has happened in some countries, and not so rarely.”
“It’s a responsibility for all those who love the ‘beautiful game’ to take action and do something. Before it’s too late, before this cancer will kill football,” added Collina.
Meler sustained a slight fracture near his eye and was discharged from hospital on Wednesday.
“Halil Umut Meler is a very good referee and a very good man. I can say this as I have seen him several times on the field of play and spent time with him at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina earlier this year Neither the referee, nor the man, deserved to live the experience he lived in Ankara,” Collina said.
“He was doing his job when he was assaulted on the field of play at the end of a match he just officiated.
“The image of Halil Umut lying on the ground, with his hands protecting his head while he was kicked by his assaulters, as well as the image of the bruise under his eye, are horrific. But even more horrific is to know that there are thousands of referees around the world who are verbally and physically abused at lower levels of the game across the world, without being reported by media.”
Koca has now resigned from his post while Turkish games, postponed following the incident, are to resume on December 19.
In a statement issued through his lawyer Koca said he wanted to apologise “to the Turkish referee and sports community, to the Turkish people and especially to Mr. Meler and his family for the attitude I displayed toward Halil Umut Meler.”
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