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Faruk Koca, the football club president who on December 11 rocked Turkish soccer when, in a fury after the final whistle, he punched a referee to the ground, has announced his resignation. Koca strode on to the field and struck the referee, Halil Umut Meler, in the face after his Ankara team MKE Ankaragucu conceded a 97th minute stoppage-time equaliser in their stadium to Caykur Rizespor in a Super Lig match. Photos show Meler, one of Turkey’s top referees, curled up on the pitch with his arms over his head to protect himself as various people, thought to include fans who ran on to the field a…

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