Defendants’ statements at first hearing
Former Ankaragücü President Faruk Koca Denies Threatening Referee Umut Meler
The trial at Ankara West 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance lasted about an hour, where former Ankaragücü President Faruk Koca denied the accusations that he threatened Meler and the assistant referees. Koca expressed his sadness that the public is preoccupied with this incident and stated, “I do not want to say anything else.”
The other two defendants, Erkan Çelikkaya and Şahin Yunus Şahin, reiterated their statements in the indictment.
Referee Halil Umut Meler claimed, “I heard the threat directly from Faruk Koca, I am complaining.”
The court has ruled to request Arbitrator Meler’s treatment and forensic reports, and postponed the next hearing to February 28.
In other related news, Mete Kalkavan, who left refereeing, has announced his new position. It seems like the case of the attack on Referee Umut Meler is still ongoing, and more updates on the case are expected in the coming days.
