Kartal resigns after the final whistle, President Yildirim says no

Coach Ismail Kartal announced his resignation immediately after the final whistle of the 1‑1 draw against AS Roma, but President Aziz Yildirim immediately objected and said clearly: “You stay, end of story.” The draw marked the first Champions League match for Fenerbahçe Istanbul in 18 years.

Resignation after Champions League kickoff

AS Roma, featuring former Dortmund player Donyell Malen (left), and Fenerbahçe delivered a tight duel, decided by a goal from Bryan Cristante in the 39th minute for Roma and an equaliser from Archie Brown in the 48th minute. The draw was a comeback for the Turkish side and sparked a huge controversy around the coach.

President Yildirim demands continuation

At the press conference after the match, Kartal said: “I made this decision to clear the way for my club.” President Yildirim objected and emphasized: “I said you will continue, end of story. We are a family.”

According to Yildirim, the reason for Kartal’s spontaneous action was a bottle throw that threatened to hit his head. The thrower received a stadium ban, while the team continues to hope for coaching support.

Things are going better for Dino Toppmöller, who secured a last‑minute victory for RC Lens at the Champions League kickoff. His success stands in stark contrast to the turmoil surrounding the Fenerbahçe coach.

Read aloud Current time: 0:00 Total duration: 0:00 1 x article (Source: Khalil Hamra/AP/dpa/dpa images). With further developments, the situation regarding the coaching change remains exciting.