Fenerbahce president rejects Ismail Kartal’s resignation after a water bottle hit him on the head in Roma’s Champions League match. Posted on September 11, 2026 September 11, 2026 Fenerbahce coach Ismail Kartal resigned from his position at the Turkish club after a spectator threw a water bottle at his head during his team’s 1-1 Champions League draw with Roma on Thursday, only for his president to reject the resignation minutes later. Kartal, 65, told a press conference that he was leaving “never to return” and added that he had made the decision to “clear the way for the club.” Kartal. He mentioned the bottle incident and also complained about being under pressure.” Asked if Kartal had told him he would stay, Yildirim said: “You don’t need to say (openly) that I would continue, I told him to continue and that’s it.” The Istanbul club said on social media that the person who had thrown a bottle at Kartal had been identified and expelled from the club’s stadium. Kartal, who spent a decade at Fenerbahce as a player, He coached the club in 2014-15, then on an interim basis in 2021-22 before returning for a full campaign in 2023-24. He was Fenerbahce’s assistant manager the last two times the club won the Super Lig and returned for a fourth spell as coach in June. Fenerbahce finished second in the Turkish top flight in the last five seasons and reached the league stage of the Champions League this season for the first time in 18. years.
