Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee Pierluigi Collina has reinforced his statement that abuse of officials is a “cancer” on football, after Turkish referee Halil Umut Mele was punched in the face by Ankaragucu’s president Faruk Koca.
Ankaragucu conceded a 97th minute equaliser in their Super Lig clash against Rizespor on Monday, before Koca rushed the field and assaulted Meler. A Turkish court ordered the president’s arrest following the incident.
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Speaking to media last month, Collina warned attitudes and abuse towards referees could “kill football.”
In a statement released following the incident in Turkey, Collina said: “speaking to media after the IFAB Annual Business Meeting in London just last month, on November 28, I said that violence, verbal and physical abuse against referees is a “cancer” that may cost football its life.
“A referee cannot be beaten because of a decision they took, even if it’s wrong. His or her car cannot be bombed or set on fire because of a penalty kick.
“Unfortunately this is not an exaggeration, as cars bombs and cars being set on fire is something that has happened in some countries, and not so rarely.”
