Sports writers comment to 12punto: What penalties will be given to Ankaragücü and Faruk Koca?

Ercan KÜÇÜK - 12punto.com.tr

Turkish football has been unable to escape controversy for years. The latest issue on the agenda is the physical attack on referee Halil Umut Meler on the pitch. Ankaragücü President Faruk Koca, who attacked referee Meler, has been arrested, and the league has been suspended. Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Mehmet Büyükekşi said in a statement today that the matches will resume on December 19.

Evaluating the discussions, veteran sports writer Atilla Türker stated that he has been watching matches for 50 years and that this is the first time he has seen a referee punched. Pointing out that Turkish football did not reach this point in a single day, Türker summarized the reasons as follows:

THE RESULT OF THE 'EVERY MEANS IS LEGITIMATE' MENTALITY

“Unfortunately, everyone has many negative reasons for this, to a greater or lesser extent. The trigger-man section of the media, club presidents, and managers, primarily the main actors of football, have been throwing wood onto the fire that has been burning every day. Due to these provocative statements, the 'every means to reach the goal is legitimate' mentality, and various interests, unfortunately, very bad actions have been taken for ten, fifteen, or even twenty years. Very bad practices have been signed off on.

I am not very hopeful about the future either. For now, we are just saving the day. Ultimately, the person who threw this punch is someone who served two terms under the roof of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and signed off on numerous penal laws.”

'HIS FOOTBALL LIFE IS OVER'

Türker stated that the TFF is expected to meet on Tuesday regarding the penalty to be given to President Koca. Emphasizing that heavy penalties are expected to come out of the meetings, Türker said:

“President Koca's football life is over, his sports life is over. The Football Federation Board will most likely meet next week on Tuesday. Most likely, a three-to-four-year ban from sports activities. Already, bans from sports activities of three years or more become lifetime bans. He has the right to appeal to the Arbitration Board, but if I were in his place, I wouldn't appeal. In fact, if I were in his place, I wouldn't even pass by the sports community, let alone be part of it. Let him kick a ball at home.

Of course, the judiciary will also impose a penalty. I am speaking based on what I have heard, read, and matters I trust. Most likely, a sentence of under two years will be given, and that will be suspended; he will be released in 20-25 days.”

HEAVY PENALTIES ON THE WAY

“Under these conditions, it seems to me that any penalty given will be accepted by everyone. Ankaragücü will rebel, but a point deduction, perhaps three points, could be deducted.

Even if it is not deducted, a very heavy penalty will be given to Ankaragücü by the disciplinary committee. I am speaking based on both my information, intelligence, and the 'black-covered notebook.' Four or five matches of stadium closure, plus four or five matches of playing behind closed doors, and a fine of around 1 million TL will be imposed.

“I have been following Ankaragücü's training sessions since I was ten years old. I know their away games, their coaches, and their spectator potential. It is very enthusiastic. However, precautions are not taken sufficiently. Incredible things have happened in the last two years. Even the security firm of that period said in its statement, 'What's wrong with this?'”

'LAW 6222 IS NOT APPLIED SUFFICIENTLY'

Sports writer Serdar Sarıdağ also attributed the cause of what happened to the accumulation of recent years and the insufficient application of Law No. 6222. Sarıdağ spoke as follows:

“It can be said that these recent events are an accumulation that has been going on for years. One of the reasons for this is that the penalties remain insufficient. For example, the fact that 6222 is not applied sufficiently. We cannot attribute this incident only to club presidents or 1-2 managers. The penalties in Turkish football are not scary enough.”

Sarıdağ emphasized that violence has now descended to the U12 level:

“Nothing will ever be the same again. A lot will change. Of course, we are all at fault in this process. The state will do what is necessary in this regard. The ministry has been working on this issue for a long time.

The important point here is family upbringing. So what is that? I watched a U12 match recently. A parent walked onto the pitch towards the referee. If people are walking onto the pitch towards the referee even in U12 matches, it means the problem is in the family. After all these developments, we have seen once again how sacred family upbringing is. First, there must be family education.”

'THE STATE, NOT TSYD, SHOULD DO THE AUDITING'

Sarıdağ also evaluated the recent statement by the Turkish Sports Writers Association (TSYD) that “Members of the sports media who act as a kind of cheerleader will be identified and will not be accredited for sports competitions.” Sarıdağ cited the English model as an antidote to the problems of Turkish football. Reminding that English football closed itself off for 5 years to get rid of its problems, Sarıdağ said:

“Since newspapers in Turkey have ended, the business has moved towards digital. Now, whoever defends the club more on social media attracts more fans to their side. The fan profile in Turkey is far below international standards. England closed itself off to the world for 5 years. Today, it has become one of the biggest leagues in the world. England cleaned up these types of structures within itself in time. They changed the stands, the press, in short, everything. We also need to do a cleanup within ourselves on this issue. The first question here is the fan profile. Because fans like such profiles, they all play along.

This attitude of TSYD will not be very effective. These people will not be in the press box, but they will continue to follow the matches from the managers' boxes. If not, they can enter with Passolig. On such an issue, not only TSYD but the state will do the auditing. The state will get involved in these matters with social media accounts and social media companies. There is no other way.”

'WE HAVE A BRAND NEW CRISIS'

Sports writer Uğur Temel, who is also a former referee, stated that the referees received instructions to “Go out to the matches.” Temel spoke as follows:

“Halil Umut Meler seems to be left with the beating he took. The President of the Football Federation announced at the press conference that the leagues will start on December 19. Those who said yesterday, 'We will talk to Halil Umut and decide,' are now silent. It seems they have received instructions to 'go out to the matches.' I want to ask these friends; 'it has become clear that you will turn back from the decision you declared. How will we believe the decisions you will make on the pitch?' In summary, another opportunity for the salvation of Turkish football and refereeing has been missed.”

Temel also explained an interesting situation that emerged regarding the postponed matches as follows:

“The 16th week Super Lig referees announced that they would not go out to the Ankaragücü match. I think that will last for one, maybe two matches at most. After that! Halil is safe, the referees are safe. Another bombshell is this: The matches to be played this weekend have been postponed to January 10. Galatasaray, which was eliminated from the Champions League, was going to Sivas this weekend. They were going to be tired, demoralized, and without Muslera (because he received a yellow card in the Adana Demirspor match and became suspended). Since the Sivas match will be played in the first week of January, will Muslera serve his suspension in that match, or will he not be there for the Karagümrük match on December 20? The Federation President said, 'the committees are working.' Whatever decision comes out, it will be highly debated. Does Galatasaray want to be without Muslera in the Sivas away game, or does it want him to serve his suspension in the Karagümrük match, which will be played with 50 thousand spectators? We have a brand new crisis again...”

News Source: Ercan Küçük