A referee who was punched in the face at the end of a Turkish football match has been discharged from the hospital where he was receiving treatment. Halil Umut Meler walked out of the building on Wednesday escorted by his doctor, who says Meler is in “good spirits and doing well.”
Turkish authorities arrested the president of top-flight football club MKE Ankaragucu after he punched Meler, prompting the Turkish Football Federation to suspend all league games. The head of the Turkish Football Federation, however, subsequently confirmed that matches will resume on December 19.
Faruk Koca attacked the referee on the pitch late Monday after the final whistle, following a 1-1 draw in a Super Lig game against Caykur Rizespor.
The referee, who fell to the ground, was also kicked in a melee that occurred when fans also invaded the pitch after Rizespor scored a last-minute equalizer.
The federation announced it suspended all league games indefinitely after an emergency meeting was held to discuss the violence.
Meler was hospitalized with a slight fracture near his eye but was not in serious condition.
Koca was ordered arrested pending trial on charges of injuring a public official after questioning by prosecutors, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Two suspects accused of kicking Meler were also arrested while three others were freed from custody on condition that they report regularly to police.
During his questioning, Koca denied causing any injury, insisting that he merely slapped the referee, according to HaberTurk television. The club president also blamed the incident on Meler, whom he accused of “wrongful decisions” and provocative acts, the station reported, citing unnamed judicial officials.
Soon after his arrest, Koca resigned as Ankaragucu president, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
Watch: Club president punches referee in the face during Turkey’s top-tier football game