Statement from Halil Umut Meler following the attack: He has announced his decision!

Referee Halil Umut Meler, who was subjected to a physical assault by former Ankaragücü president Faruk Koca following the MKE Ankaragücü - Çaykur Rizespor match, has issued a written statement.

In his statement, Meler noted that the judicial, administrative, and disciplinary processes regarding the attack and violence directed at him and his fellow referees officiating the match on December 11 in Ankara are being meticulously conducted by judicial authorities and the Turkish Football Federation.

"I WANT THEM TO BE PUNISHED IN THE SEVEREST WAY POSSIBLE"

Stating that he will follow these processes to the end, Meler said the following:

"I want you to know that I want the perpetrators and those responsible for the incident to be punished in the severest way possible. This heinous event, which has occupied the public agenda for days, should not be evaluated as if it only occurred within the context of a sports competition. Unfortunately, violence frequently appears in every area of life and sometimes leads to irreparable consequences.

I hope that the penalties to be imposed as a result of this incident, which has become a global agenda item today, will serve as a deterrent and a precedent for acts of violence occurring in sports, as well as in healthcare, education, within the family, in traffic, in daily life on the street, and in every area of life. I have full confidence that both the judicial authorities and the Legal Boards of the Turkish Football Federation will impose deterrent penalties in this regard. It should be the duty of all of us to move away from this climate of violence and to put a stop to all forms of violence."

Meler expressed his gratitude to all those who supported him, primarily AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and all state officials, the doctors and staff at Acıbadem Ankara Hospital who treated him, the security forces, his friends in the entire refereeing community, the FIFA, UEFA, and TFF executives, the Central Referee Board, non-governmental organizations, his friends, and his fellow citizens, and thanked everyone who offered their support.

Stating, "I hope that violence and the belief in violence will come to an end in every area of life," Meler added, "Thinking that all relevant institutions have taken the necessary steps more than sufficiently, as I mentioned above, it is also my expectation that football returns to the natural flow of life. In this context, provided that their safety is ensured in every detail, it is also my desire for my fellow referees, whom I love dearly, to return to the public duty they perform and for the matches to continue."

News Source: AA