Referee Hospitalized After Being Punched And Kicked In Head On "Night Of Shame For Turkish Football"

Dr Mehmet Yorubulut, the chief physician of the hospital, said on Monday night: "There is no life threat for the moment. He only has bleeding around his left eye and a small fracture.

"We will [monitor] our referee until the morning due to head trauma. We will discharge him from hospital after the necessary examinations in the morning."

The shocking attacks on Meler came after Rizespor had scored a 97th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Ankaragucu's Eryaman Stadium.

Turkish FA chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi told a news conference on Monday evening that all league matches in the country would be "postponed indefinitely" and said it had been "a night of shame for Turkish football".

Buyukeksi added: "Football matches are not a war, there is no death at the end. Not all teams can become champions at the same time. We all need to understand this. We invite everyone to take responsibility.

"[Ankaragucu] and its managers will be punished most severely."

The country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also commented. He said: "I condemn the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler after the MKE Ankaragucu-Caykur Rizespor match played this evening, and I wish him a speedy recovery.

"Sports means peace and brotherhood. Sport is incompatible with violence. We will never allow violence to take place in Turkish sports."

A club statement issued by MKE Ankaragucu read: "We are saddened by the incident that took place this evening.

"We apologize to the Turkish football public and the entire sports community for the sad incident that occurred after the Caykur Rizespor match at Eryaman Stadium."