Erdogan’s friend and sometime savior: President Koca is no stranger to abuse in Turkey

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Turkish football is in turmoil. The blame lies with him: Faruk Koca (59), chairman of the Turkish first division club Ankaragücü.

On Monday evening he brutally attacked referee Halil Umut Meler (37) after a league match against Rizespor (1:1). He knocks his victim down with a punch, after which his accomplices kick the referee while he is already on the ground.

The scandal is causing a furor. And has serious consequences. Koca and his gang of thugs have already been taken into police custody. In response to the incident, the Turkish federation immediately suspended championship operations. All thanks to one man. But who actually beats President Faruk Koca?

Erdogan’s friend from the party – and once his savior

Born in 1964 in Ankara, Koca was one of the founders of the ruling AKP party. He represented the main party of Turkish head of state Recep Erdogan for two terms as a member of parliament in the Grand National Assembly (2002-2007, 2007-2011).

But he is now being harshly condemned by his old party friend Erdogan for his attack on the referee. Moreover, he is now threatened with expulsion from the AKP. A corresponding request was submitted to the party’s disciplinary department.

Koca was a passionate supporter of his political group for many years. He demonstrated his devotion to the AKP and its figurehead Erdogan in a 2006 incident that brought him national fame. At that point, Erdogan fell ill and was driven to a hospital in an armored vehicle. But his bodyguards could not take him to the doctor because the keys were left in the vehicle but the doors were locked. Without further ado, Koca intervened, armed with a sledgehammer, smashed the windows and freed Erdogan from his four-wheeled prison.

Not the first attack

In 2021, the father of four won election as president of MKE Ankaragücü, the football club in his hometown. Crazy: In October 2022 he received the Fair Play Award in the ‘Best President/Manager’ category. And that despite the fact that his fist already slipped once.

In his first year as club boss, Koca allegedly hit his then coach Hikmet Karaman. Karaman tells this to “A Spor”. «Faruk Koca attacked me with his fist when I was training Ankaragücü. I didn’t tell you then, but I do now.” Shortly afterwards, the coach was fired by the Rüpel chairman. (sbe)

Source : Blick