Fenerbahçe coach Ismail Kartal resigns after fan incident

Fenerbahçe head coach Ismail Kartal announced his resignation following a 1-1 Champions League draw against AS Roma. The decision was triggered by intense pressure and an incident during the match where a fan threw a water bottle that struck Kartal in the head.

Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yıldırım has refused to accept the resignation, stating, “Ismail Kartal is at his post. I am his superior, I told him to continue and that is it.” Despite the president's refusal, reports indicated Kartal missed subsequent training sessions and had his phone turned off, creating further uncertainty regarding his status.

A fan, identified as Kaan A., was detained following the incident. In his statement, he claimed he threw the bottle without targeting the coach and expressed regret, apologizing to Kartal and the public. The club has since banned the individual from the stadium.