Ismail Kartal Resigns as Fenerbahce Boss After Roma Draw, Fenerbahce President Rejects His Decision

• Fenerbahce drew 1-1 with Roma in Turkiye, with Archie Brown cancelling out Bryan Cristante’s opener
• After the match, 65-year-old Ismail Kartal announced he was leaving, but president Aziz Yildirim refused to accept his resignation minutes later
• During the game, a water bottle hit Kartal’s head, and Fenerbahce later said the person responsible had been identified and banned from the stadium

Roma Point Overshadowed by Post-Match Turmoil

Fenerbahce began their Champions League league phase with a 1-1 draw against Roma, but the result was quickly eclipsed by events involving head coach Ismail Kartal after the final whistle.

The draw gave Fenerbahce a point at the start of their league-phase campaign, but a bottle thrown at Kartal’s head while the score was 1-1 triggered a dramatic sequence of events. The Istanbul club later stated on social media that the individual who threw the bottle had been identified and banned from the stadium.

Kartal Announces Exit Before President Steps In

Kartal stunned Fenerbahce by declaring at his post-match news conference that he was resigning from his position. The coach, who was struck by the bottle during the match, said the decision had been made with the club’s interests in mind.

“As of this evening, I congratulate my players and resign from my position,” Kartal said.

“I made this decision to pave the way for my club. We made this decision together as a team.

“From now on, to help Fenerbahce, my players and future coaches, I have resigned from my position, with the intention of never returning.”

However, Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim quickly made clear that he did not consider the resignation accepted. The club also posted a message on social media confirming its position.

Yildirim Rejects Resignation and Defends Coach

Yildirim said the resignation had taken the club by surprise and insisted Kartal would remain in the job.

“Ismail resigned suddenly. We weren’t expecting it,” Yildirim said in a club statement.

“Ismail Kartal doesn’t need to say ‘I will continue.’ I am his senior. I said ‘You will continue,’ and that’s it.

“We are a family! There’s nothing wrong with us. The incident happened when a bottle was thrown at his head while the score was 1-1. People started shouting from there. The fans were shouting without knowing what was happening.”

Speaking to reporters immediately after Kartal’s announcement, Yildirim also addressed the incident and the pressure surrounding the coach.

“Some fans threw a bottle at the coach’s head this evening during the game. He is upset about it,” Yildirim said.

“I just spoke to Ismail Kartal. He mentioned the bottle incident and he also complained about being under pressure.”

Asked if Kartal had told him that he would stay, Yildirim said: “There’s no need for him to say (openly) that he’d continue. I am his senior, I told him to continue and that’s it. We are a family.”

Kartal’s Long Fenerbahce Connection

Kartal has deep ties to Fenerbahce, having spent a decade at the club as a player. He was later assistant manager during the last two occasions on which Fenerbahce won the Super Lig.

His managerial history with the club includes the 2014-15 season, an interim spell in 2021-22 and a full campaign in 2023-24. He returned for a fourth managerial spell in June.

Since that June return, Kartal has won six of his 11 matches in charge, with three draws and two defeats. Across his spells since first taking charge in 2014, he has overseen 135 matches, winning 92, drawing 25 and losing 18.