The president of Turkish SuperLig team Istanbulspor ordered his players to leave the field in protest of an officiating decision during a game Tuesday, just over a week after a referee was punched in the face.
Violence in football is common in Turkey despite efforts to clamp down on it although direct attacks on top-level referees are rare.
Referee Halil Umut Meler had been attacked on the pitch last Monday after a 1-1 draw in a Super Lig game between Caykur Rizespor and MKE Ankaragucu. Faruk Koca, president of Ankaragucu, resigned and was banned by the Turkish Football Federation for punching Meler.
After the game — Ankaragucu vs Rizespor in the Turkish League, the Referee was punched by Ankaragucu president. He should not be allowed to continue in any way
Turkish FA postponed matches in all Leagues indefinitely.
Disgraceful-Shameful pic.twitter.com/T24L5jiDA6
— 90MinFoot (@90minfoot_euro) December 12, 2023
The Turkish Football Federation imposed a permanent ban on Koca, who was arrested the day after the match. The TFF board also fined the club £54,000 and ruled that Ankaragucu will play five home games without fans as a result of the unrest, where a number of supporters had also invaded the pitch.
The top-flight returned to action Tuesday and this time was in the spotlight for a match between Istanbulspor and Trabzonspor.
The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that Istanbulspor president Ecmel Faik Sarialioglu came to the field and ordered his players off in the 73rd minute. He was upset that the referee did not call a penalty before Paul Onuachu scored to give Trabzonspor a 2-1 lead at Necmi Kadıoglu Stadium.
Some Istanbulspor players tried to persuade the president to reconsider his decision. with Ivory Coast defender Simon Deli pictured kneeling in front of him.
The chairman of Turkish side #Istanbulspor just told his entire team to walk off the pitch because they didn’t get a penalty decision Match against Trabzonspor has been suspended pic.twitter.com/UivGiOlzag
— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) December 19, 2023
“Despite attempts by Trabzonspor’s president Ertugrul Dogan and several Istanbulspor players to convince Sarıalioglu to resume the match, Istanbulspor abandoned the field,” Anadolu reported.
The game was then suspended. The Turkish federation will make a decision about the match.
“It is a sad day for football… We will wait for the football federation’s decision from now on,” Trabzonspor coach Abdullah Avci said.
Trabzonspor posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the match “was stopped in the 73rd minute due to the players of the opposing team withdrawing from the field”.
Istanbulspor are bottom of the Super Lig.
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