Fenerbahce head coach Ismail Kartal attempted to resign from his position following an incident during Thursday’s Champions League encounter with Roma, in which a spectator hurled a water bottle that struck him in the head. The 65-year-old made his decision public at a press conference, stating he was departing the club permanently and stepping aside to allow the organization to move forward.
However, club president Aziz Yildirim swiftly intervened, announcing that Kartal would remain in his coaching role. Yildirim explained that the manager was distressed by the bottle-throwing incident and felt pressured, but emphasized that the club was unified as a family and that Kartal’s departure was unnecessary.
The Istanbul-based organization took immediate action regarding the incident, identifying the individual responsible for throwing the bottle and imposing a permanent stadium ban. The match itself ended in a 1-1 draw, marking Fenerbahce’s entry into the Champions League group stage for the first time in nearly two decades. Kartal, a former player at the club, has held multiple managerial appointments with Fenerbahce since returning for his fourth spell in June.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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