Thursday 10 May 2018 17:53, UK
Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan has been banned for 16 games by the Turkish FA for attacking an assistant referee while on loan at Basaksehir.
Turan was given a 10-match suspension for attacking an assistant referee while playing for Super Lig contenders Basaksehir - with a further three matches for insulting him and another three matches for threatening him.
He was also fined 39,000 lira (£7,000).
Basaksehir had been leading Sivaspor 1-0 in the May 4 game but conceded a late equaliser in a major blow to their championship hopes.
Seeking to launch a final attack down the wing, Turan felt the assistant referee's decision had gone against him and marched up to the official, remonstrating in his face and then shoving him firmly back with both hands.
Turan was then given a red card by the match referee and could be seen continuing to rant as he marched off the pitch.
The incident came with Turkish football facing one of its biggest crises in recent years after an Istanbul derby Turkish Cup semi-final between Fenerbahce and Besiktas was abandoned last month due to crowd violence.
Fenerbahce will face Akhisar later Thursday in the final after being given a walkover when Besiktas refused to turn up to the resumption of the abandoned game.
