“This is a cancer”: now the referee boss comments on the Turkey scandal

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Former world-class referee Pierluigi Collina (63) sharply criticized the violent attack on Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler and warned of the consequences of the physical attack. The images were “horrific,” but “what is even more horrific is the knowledge that there are thousands of referees around the world who are being verbally and physically abused at the lower levels of football,” Collina said in a statement.

These are “unknown. And the vast majority of them are young referees who are still at the beginning of their career,” says Collina, head of the refereeing committee at the world governing body FIFA: “A referee cannot be defeated because of a decision he has made. even if it’s wrong. His or her car may not be set on fire or bombed because of a penalty. Unfortunately, this is not an exaggeration, as car bombs and torched cars are not that rare in some countries.

Violence can kill football

Collina recently described violence against referees as a “cancer” that has infected the game and “will kill football”. Now the Italian renewed his warning: “It is the responsibility of everyone who loves the beautiful game to take action and do something. Before it’s too late, before this cancer kills football.”

Meler was massively attacked on Monday after the match between Ankaragücü and Rizespor in the Turkish first division. Faruk Koca, who has since resigned as president of Ankaragücü, hit Meler in the face with his fist so hard that he received a black eye. Other people also kicked the referee who had fallen to the ground. The Turkish Football Association TFF initially suspended matches in the Süper Lig, but play will resume from December 19. (AFP/men)

Source : Blick