Turkish club angered by jail sentence for punching referee

Turkish football club Ankaragucu have defended their former president Faruk Koca after he was sentenced to jail for assaulting a referee.

On Monday a court in the Turkish capital Ankara sentenced Koca, 60, to three years and seven months in prison for "intentionally wounding a public official".

Koca was also given a suspended sentence of under a year for making threats and violating laws related to violence in sport.

Koca punched referee Halil Umut Meler in the face following a 1-1 draw with Rizespor in December 2023, leaving the official with a fractured eye socket.

Meler fell to the floor and was subsequently kicked by three other individuals.

In a statement published after the sentencing, Ankaragucu chairman Ismail Mert Firat said it was "impossible to interpret the sentence with good intentions".

He argued that "no disgraceful crime, external" had been committed and accused the court of succumbing to biased public opinion.

Ankaragucu reaffirmed their support for Koca, citing his positive contributions to Turkish football during his three-year tenure as president and called him a "legend".

The club argued that the sentence is disproportionate as Koca resigned from his post and publicly apologised following the assault.

The Turkish Football Federation suspended football in the country for a week following the incident and handed Koca a permanent ban.

Ankaragucu were fined two million lira (£54,000) and ordered to play five home games without any fans.

Three other defendants involved in the attack received suspended sentences ranging from 15 months to five years.

All four are expected to appeal against the court's ruling, while Koca will not be sent to jail until the higher court rules on any appeal.