Kartal still Fenerbahce boss despite resigning

What the report says

Fenerbahce head coach Ismail Kartal remains in charge after briefly announcing his resignation in the aftermath of Thursday’s 1-1 Champions League draw at home to Roma, BBC Sport Football reported. The Turkish club later said president Aziz Yildirim had not accepted the resignation, and the team confirmed on Friday that Kartal would continue preparing for Monday’s league match against Gaziantep FK.

According to BBC Sport Football, Kartal said he planned not to return to the club immediately after the match, citing the pressure of the job and an incident in which he was struck by a bottle thrown from the stands. The club said it had identified the spectator involved and imposed a stadium ban.

Kartal, 65, is in his fourth spell as Fenerbahce head coach. He previously played for the club and also worked there as an assistant. The report notes that Fenerbahce are ninth in the Turkish Super Lig after taking six points from four matches, and that their next Champions League group-stage fixture is away to Aston Villa on 14 October. The episode highlights the tension around high-profile coaching changes and fan behavior at major European clubs, though BBC Sport Football’s report focused on the immediate decision for Kartal to stay on.