Jet incident sees Fenerbahçe coach quit as Romelu Lukaku watches chaos
In the aftermath of the Fenerbahçe versus AS Roma clash on 11 September 2026, a bottle – the Jet incident – hurled at coach Ismail Kartal sparked his dramatic resignation, only to be rejected by club president Aziz Yildirim, leaving Romelu Lukaku and the squad in a state of disbelief.
The pre‑match narrative framed the Fenerbahçe‑AS Roma clash as a pivotal moment in the club's return to the European Championnats étrangers after an 18‑year hiatus. Both sides entered the game seeking a logical draw that would preserve their standing in the competition. L'après match commentary hinted that the encounter would be remembered, but not necessarily for the right reasons.
On the pitch, the two teams produced a balanced performance, with the scoreline reflecting a sensible stalemate. Romelu Lukaku featured for Fenerbahçe, while AS Roma's goalkeeper Mile Svilar kept a clean sheet. The result satisfied the tactical expectations of both managers.
Second‑half turmoil erupts
Midway through the second half, a bottle was launched from the stands, striking coach Ismail Kartal and igniting immediate Chaos. The incident prompted Kartal to announce, “Pour le bien de Fenerbahçe, de mes joueurs et des futurs entraîneurs, je démissionne de mon poste, avec l'intention de ne jamais y revenir,” a statement that stunned the assembled press. His abrupt resignation was delivered while the match continued, leaving Romelu Lukaku and his teammates in disbelief.
Club hierarchy refuses resignation
President Aziz Yildirim rose moments later, declaring, “Il est au début de sa mission. Nous le soutenons. Je suis son supérieur, je lui ai dit de continuer et c’est tout. Nous sommes une famille.” He insisted that Ismail Kartal remained the coach and urged supporters to stand behind him. The president also claimed that a water bottle had been thrown at Kartal’s head, adding that the coach was “bouleversé” and felt pressure. A senior official added, “La situation est inacceptable”, reinforcing the club’s stance.
Former Ghent left‑back Archie Brown, who scored during the evening, reacted with bewilderment: “How can the coach resign? I wasn’t aware.” A fan on social media wrote, “Vous jetez des bouteilles, comment est‑il censé rester immobile ? C’est honteux.” One commentator noted, “Après le match, nous analyserons la situation”, highlighting the need for review.
Gilles Joinau, Editeur at DH and S+, Publié the full account on 11‑09‑2026, noting that the club identified the individual who threw the bottle on instruction from the Istanbul prosecutor’s office. A stadium ban was imposed, and the club announced the measure on X, describing the episode as pure Chaos. The statement also urged fans to “Suivre” the investigation closely.
Despite qualifying for the Champions League, Fenerbahçe now faces a four‑point gap to Galatasaray after a recent defeat to Besiktas. Romelu Lukaku remains under pressure as the transfer window yields limited success, with rivals such as Vlahovic arriving on a free transfer at Besiktas. The club will “Partager” the final decision after the next match, and a supporter shouted “Rom!” as the crowd chanted.