Football player assaults referee for giving him a red card during a match in Famagusta

A football player was arrested on Saturday for attacking and inflicting injuries on a the referee for showing him a red card during a football match in Famagsuta.

The incident happened during the football match played between Çanakkale Turkish Sports Club and Vadili Sports Club at around 3:30 pm on Saturday in Dr. Fazıl Küçük Stadium in Famagusta.

During the game, the referee Mustafa Torun, 34 showed a football player identified as H.Ç.Ç., 26 playing for Çanakkale Turkish Sports Club a red card in the 75th minute of the game for a fowl.

Instead of leaving the pitch, H.Ç.Ç. attacked the referee, kicked him in the face with his right foot, and physically assaulted him.

The referee who was left with a broken cheekbone was taken to Famagusta State Hospital and was discharged after treatment. 

The player, H.Ç.Ç. was arrested and the investigation is ongoing.

The TRNC Football Federation issued a statement condemning the incident.

The statement made by the Federation said, “We have learned with deep sorrow about the assault on Mustafa Torun, the referee of the Çanakkale TSK - Vadili TÇBSK match organized by KTFF in the 6th week of the AKSA 1st League Süleyman Göktaş Season. Football is a sport where friendship, brotherhood and the spirit of fair play must be experienced together. We declare that we will never allow assault attempts on referees and/or other stakeholders who work for football, condemn the person in question for this action and wish a speedy recovery to referee Mustafa Torun who experienced the unfortunate incident.”