Following the attack on Meler: 'The salt has gone bad' statement from the Workers' Party of Turkey

MKE Ankaragücü Club President Faruk Koca attacked referee Halil Umut Meler after their 1-1 draw against Çaykur Rizespor. Meler was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) issued a statement condemning the attack.

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Following the attack on Meler: 'The salt has gone bad' statement from the Workers' Party of Turkey

Following the revelation that Faruk Koca, who punched referee Halil Umut Meler at the end of the match, was a founding member of the AKP and a 22nd and 23rd term AKP deputy, the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) issued a statement sharing a photograph of Koca with AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan, with the caption 'The salt has gone bad'.

TİP'S STATEMENT IS AS FOLLOWS:

At the end of the match played between Ankaragücü and Rizespor in the Super Lig this evening, Ankaragücü President and AKP founding member, 22nd and 23rd term deputy Faruk Koca and his associates assaulted the match referee Halil Umut Meler. We convey our best wishes for his recovery.

In our country, which will host the European Football Championship to be organized by UEFA in 2032, football continues to decay in a system that walks hand-in-hand with betting scandals where the rich get richer every day, and with gang-like behavior.

While the Palace Regime allows this gang-like behavior that interferes with football and the dozens of scandals we encounter every day, the Turkish Football Federation under its influence had given Faruk Koca a Fair-Play award in 2022.

During the 20-year AKP rule, just as in every other field, the salt has gone bad in sports too! We are ashamed of these images that befit the AKP order, and we announce that we will fight against this decay that sports has been brought to.