Violence in the world of football: Players and referees who were attacked in the past!

Former national football player Serhat Akın's social media post stating that he was the victim of an armed attack has brought past incidents of violence in the football world back to the agenda.

Both players and referees have occasionally faced such dangers. Here are some names who have been targets of violence in football:

CÜNEYT ÇAKIR

Renowned Turkish referee Cüneyt Çakır was subjected to an armed threat and an attempted attack in 2015.

The attack, which took place in an area near his home, has come to the agenda as a violent reaction against referees in football. Fortunately, Çakır did not suffer any physical harm from this attack.

FIRAT AYDINUS

It was alleged that Fırat Aydınus was the target of an armed attack at a cafe in Istanbul in 2007.

However, it has not been clarified whether this attack was directed at the referee or if it was a coincidence. This incident has shown that referees are also occasionally subjected to acts of violence.

ATTACK ON FENERBAHÇE FOOTBALL TEAM

On April 4, 2015, the Fenerbahçe football team's bus was subjected to an armed attack in Trabzon while returning from an away match in Rize. As a result of the attack, the bus driver was injured, and the team narrowly escaped a major disaster.

This incident has caused a major stir in the history of Turkish football and has drawn significant backlash.

MEHMET TOPAL AND UYGAR MERT ZEYBEK

In August 2015, an armed attack was carried out against the vehicle of Fenerbahçe footballer Mehmet Topal and his friend Mert Uygar Zeybek.

Thanks to Topal being in his armored vehicle during the attack, no injuries occurred.

VOLKAN DEMİREL

In 2014, security measures at the home of Fenerbahçe goalkeeper Volkan Demirel were increased due to threats directed at him.

Although no armed attack had taken place, it was stated that there were serious threats directed at one of the players.

SELÇUK ŞAHİN

In 2015, Fenerbahçe footballer Selçuk Şahin was one of the players targeted following the armed attack on the team bus.

At that time, Fenerbahçe football players were faced with various attacks and threats.

AHMET ÇAKAR

Former FIFA-badged referee and sports commentator Ahmet Çakar was shot and wounded by an assailant who approached him in Mecidiyeköy holding flowers.

HALİL UMUT MELER

During the MKE Ankaragücü vs. Çaykur Rizespor match played on December 11, 2023, MKE Ankaragücü president Faruk Koca entered the pitch and physically assaulted the match referee, Halil Umut Meler.

Following the incident, all leagues in Turkey were postponed indefinitely by the TFF.

Current TFF President and former Trabzonspor President İbrahim Hacıosmanoğlu held referees captive for four and a half hours following the Trabzonspor-Gaziantepspor match played in the 2015-2016 Süper Lig season. This incident caused serious public outcry.

EVENTS FOLLOWING THE TRABZONSPOR-FENERBAHÇE MATCH

Following the match in the 30th week of the Süper Lig, where Fenerbahçe defeated Trabzonspor 3-2 away from home, a brawl broke out on the pitch.

Following the final whistle of the match, Fenerbahçe players and the technical staff gathered in the middle of the pitch to celebrate the victory.

During the celebration, the burgundy-blue fans entered the pitch despite attempts by security forces to stop them. The pitch suddenly turned chaotic, and a brawl broke out between the Fenerbahçe players and the fans. The yellow-navy players responded to the kicks and punches thrown by the fans.

With the intervention of security forces, the yellow-navy players passed through the tunnel and headed to the locker room.

The match was stopped from time to time due to explosive materials and water cups thrown onto the pitch by Trabzonspor fans.

The match referee, Halil Umut Meler, called his assistant referees to the center of the pitch due to objects thrown onto the field and waited for the fans to calm down.