Sports writer calls for radical reforms amid turmoil in Turkish football

The recent shocking assault on referee Halil Umut Meler on the pitch by a former club president and the subsequent series of violent incidents have prompted sports writer Uğur Meleke to advocate for a radical package of measures to address the pervasive chaos and violence in Turkish football.

"The main cause of chaos and violence in Turkish football is not the players, not the coaches, not the referees. The chaos is mostly caused by sports terrorists, the media, or self-appointed administrators," Meleke wrote in daily Hürriyet on Dec. 21.

Faruk Koca's resignation from Ankaragücü's presidency came after he physically assaulted Meler following a contentious 1-1 draw with Çaykur Rizespor. Footage captured Koca and a group of men rushing onto the pitch, assaulting Meler, who was subsequently hospitalized with a small fracture near his eye.

Koca appeared to be incensed at Meler for sending off one of his players and then awarding a stoppage-time goal that allowed visiting Çaykur Rizespor to leave the capital with a 1-1 draw.

The turmoil in Turkish football further intensified on Dec. 19 when Istanbulspor walked off the pitch in protest during their Super Lig game against Trabzonspor. This came as the league resumed after a one-week suspension following Koca's assault on Meler.

Istanbulspor's president, Ecmel Faik Sarıalioğlu, ordered the team to withdraw from the pitch in the 74th minute after a disputed refereeing decision in the match.

The controversy was sparked when Trabzonspor went 2-1 ahead with a goal from Paul Onuachu, after Istanbulspor players had earlier claimed they should have had a penalty following a clash between Florian Loshaj and Batista Mendy.

Meleke, responding to the escalating crisis, emphasized the...