The Turkish football championship, suspended since the lynching of a referee on Monday during a first division match in Ankara, will resume on December 19, the president of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced on Wednesday.
“All leagues will resume on Tuesday, December 19,” indicated Mehmet Büyükeksi, the head of the federation, who announced on the night of Monday to Tuesday the “sine die postponement” of all matches.
Mr. Büyükeksi clarified that sanctions against the Ankaragücü club could be announced on Thursday.
Only matches from the 16th day of the Turkish Süper Lig will be postponed.
The referee of a match between Ankaragücü and Rizespor, Halil Umut Meler, was beaten Monday evening by several men, including the president of the club in the capital, Ankara.
Faruk Koca, Ankaragücü manager, rushed onto the pitch at the final whistle before punching the referee in the face.
Rizespor had just equalized (1-1) a few moments earlier in added time on the Ankaragücü field, which had been denied a goal earlier in the match.
Falling to the ground, the referee curled up into a ball to protect himself but was subsequently kicked several times in the face by two other men.
The three perpetrators of the blows were detained on Tuesday, while the referee was hospitalized, notably suffering from head trauma.
Halil Umut Meler left the Ankara hospital on Wednesday morning where he had been transported Monday evening, noted an AFP photographer.
Faruk Koca, for his part, announced his resignation on Tuesday evening.
