Fenerbahce president rejects coach's sudden resignation after bottle incident

Agence France-Presse ·
ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - SEPTEMBER 10: Fenerbahce head coach Ismail Kartal speaks during a press conference following the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 league phase Matchday 1 match between Fenerbahce and Roma at Chobani Stadium in Istanbul, Turkiye, on September 10, 2026.
Anadolu / Getty

Fenerbahce coach Ismail Kartal resigned after he was targeted by a bottle thrown from the crowd during the club's 1-1 Champions League draw with Roma on Thursday, but his president rejected it.

"I quit and I'm not coming back," the 65-year-old, who was only hired in June, said on beIN Sports Turkey after the game.

However, Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim said minutes later that Kartal would be going nowhere.

"Ismail Kartal is at the start of his mission. We support him," said Yildirim.

The Istanbul club said on social media that the person who had thrown a bottle at Kartal had been identified and banned from the stadium.

XRedditFacebookWhatsAppEmailSMS
MORE STORIES
UEFA Champions League on X
UEFA Champions League
@ChampionsLeague

Fenerbahçe tifo 😮‍💨 #UCL

Fenerbahce fans unveil Frankenstein tifo for long-awaited UCL return 🔥

@ChampionsLeague on X