Fenerbahçe’s night began with a celebration marking their return to the UEFA Champions League after an 18-year absence, but ended in unexpected chaos that left the fate of manager İsmail Kartal hanging in the balance.
During the 1-1 draw against Roma, a group of angry fans threw projectiles from the stands, and a bottle hit Kartal in the head, according to statements by club president Aziz Yıldırım. The manager entered the post-match press conference, praised his players, and then shocked everyone by announcing his resignation, stating that he decided to step down to clear the path for the club without any intention of returning.
The decision came as a surprise even inside the dressing room; Archie Brown, who scored the equalizer against Roma, learned about his manager’s resignation during a television interview and could not hide his astonishment.
However, the story did not end there. Yıldırım stepped forward to reject the resignation, affirming his support for the manager and stating that he told him he must continue, before describing what happened as a dispute that could be resolved within the “family.”
Kartal had returned in June for his fourth tenure with Fenerbahçe, leading the team in 11 matches at the start of the season—securing six wins, three draws, and two defeats—while guiding them back to the Champions League league phase. Prior to this spell, Kartal had managed Fenerbahçe in 125 official matches, recording 86 victories, 22 draws, and 17 losses, with his team scoring 282 goals, though the absence of a league title remained the major point of debate surrounding his tenure.
The incident recalls what happened with Fatih Tekke, who resigned as Trabzonspor manager following a European exit before the president rejected his departure. Tekke returned for a match against Amedspor before eventually parting ways with the club after a loss; this makes Kartal’s continuation possible, though it offers no guarantee of a long-term stay.
