Fresh chaos in Turkey as president pulls team off pitch in protest at referee call week after club boss punched official
TURKISH football descended into chaos once again as İstanbulspor president Faik Sarıalioğlu ordered his team off the pitch against Trabzonspor.
Sarıalioğlu fumed at his side not being awarded a penalty and decided it was necessary to protest the referee’s decision.
He ordered his players off the pitch and they obeyed his instructions.
It comes just a week after all football in Turkey was suspended by the football federation following an attack on a referee by Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca.
Istanbulspor were trailing their Super Lig clash with Trabzonspor 2-1 at the time of the incident, with the game being suspended in the 73rd minute.
Minutes earlier Florian Loshaj went down under a challenge from Batista Mendy in the box but the ref waved play on.
Istanbulspor striker Simon Deli appeared to beg his president Sarıalioğlu not to take the team off.
Trabzonspor manager Abdullah Avci reacted saying: “It is a sad day for football. We will wait for the football federation’s decision from now on.”
Turkish football has only just returned from its suspension and children wore t-shirts with the word “respect” emblazoned across them ahead of kick-off, and also presented the referee with flowers.
Last week referee Umut Meler was hospitalised after being punched on the pitch by Ankaragucu president Koca, with two fans kicking him as he lay on the floor.
He suffered a fractured eye socket and he was spotted in a neck brace while he lay in a hospital bed.
Meler said following his release from hospital: “There is no problem with my health.”
Asked if he would continue refereeing, he added: “They called me from UEFA. I will explain these issues later.
“There is no situation at the moment, everything is possible. I just want to go home and rest.”