FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned the attack on Halil Umut Meler

FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned the attack on referee Halil Umut Meler after the match between MKE Ankaragücü and Çaykur Rizespor in the Trendyol Super League.

In his statement, President Infantino stated that the attack was unacceptable and said, “There is no place for violence in football, on or off the pitch. What happened after the MKE Ankaragücü-Çaykur Rizespor match in the Super League is unacceptable. Such actions have no place in sports and society.”

“Without referees, there is no football,” Infantino said, adding, “The safety of referees, players, fans and technical staff must be ensured and they must enjoy the game. I call on the relevant authorities to ensure that this is the case and that these officials are respected at all levels.”