Fenerbahce Coach Ismail Kartal Resigns After 1-1 Roma Draw as President Refuses Exit
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Sep 10
Fenerbahce Coach Ismail Kartal Resigns After 1-1 Roma Draw as President Refuses Exit
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Sep 10
Summary
Ismail Kartal quit in a post-match news conference minutes after Fenerbahce's 1-1 Champions League draw with Roma, saying he was stepping aside to "pave the way" for the club and did not plan to return.
Aziz Yildirim immediately rejected the resignation, saying the 65-year-old remains head coach after Kartal cited mounting pressure and a bottle thrown from the stands during the match.
Fenerbahce said the spectator involved in the bottle incident has been identified and banned, while Yildirim blamed supporters and media criticism for intensifying the pressure on Kartal.
The resignation stunned players — defender Archie Brown said he learned of it only in interviews after scoring the 48th-minute equaliser against Roma.
Kartal had returned in June for a fourth spell as manager, but leaves after three months with Fenerbahce ninth in the Super Lig and back in the Champions League for the first time in 18 years.