England take on Slovakia on Sunday evening in the Euro 2024 last 16 – and fans may recognise the referee for the match.
After winning just one of their three group games and scoring just two goals, the Three Lions need a big performance and result in Gelsenkirchen as they bid to make the quarter-finals.
The referee for the big game will be Halil Umut Meler from Turkey, who gained worldwide recognition last December after being brutally attacked by a club president following a Super Lig match.
Following full-time of the 1-1 draw between MKE Ankaragucu and Caykur Rizespor, Ankaragucu club president Faruk Koca ran onto the pitch and punched Meler in the jaw.
Follow Metro.co.uk’s live blog for full coverage of England’s Euro 2024 clash vs Slovakia.
The referee fell to the floor, before two other men who had also ran on to the pitch with Koca kicked Meler in the head while he was down on the ground.
Players, officials and security rushed to Meler’s aid who was eventually taken to hospital where he was pictured in a neck brace and looking severely battered and bruised.
He was visited in hospital by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who joined in the widespread condemnation of the attack, which resulted in all Super Lig matches being temporarily suspended.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: ‘There is absolutely no place for violence in football, on or off the field.
‘Events following the Turkish Super Lig match between MKE Ankaragucu and Caykur Rizespor are totally unacceptable and have no place in our sport or society.
‘Without match officials there is no football. Referees, players, fans and staff have to be safe and secure to enjoy the game, and I call on the relevant authorities to ensure that this is strictly implemented and respected at all levels.’
The day after the incident, Koca apologised to Meler and his family before announcing his resignation, and a month later the 37-year-old was back officiating games.
The match officials for England vs Slovakia
Umut Meler (TUR)
Emre Eyisoy (TUR) and Kerem Ersoy (TUR)
Marco Fritz (GER)
Christian Dingert (GER)
Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)
Rade Obrenovic (SVN)
Meler has refereed in the Turkish Super Lig since 2015 and the Champions League since 2020.
He has so far officiated two games at Euro 2024: Slovakia’s 1-0 win over Belgium and Austria’s 3-1 victory against Poland.
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