Fenerbahçe were thrown into unexpected drama after head coach İsmail Kartal announced his resignation shortly after the club’s 1–1 Champions League draw with Roma.

Kartal, 65, made the surprise announcement during his post-match press conference, saying he had decided to step down to clear the way for the club’s future. The decision came as a shock, particularly after Kartal had guided Fenerbahçe back to the Champions League league phase for the first time in 18 years.

The main reason appears to have been the pressure and treatment he received during the Roma match, rather than simply the 1–1 result.

According to Fenerbahçe president Aziz Yıldırım, a fan threw a bottle at İsmail Kartal during the match, hitting him in the head. Yıldırım said the incident left Kartal upset, and Kartal also complained about the pressure he was facing

However, the resignation did not last long.

Fenerbahçe president Aziz Yıldırım quickly rejected Kartal’s decision and insisted that the veteran coach would remain in charge. Yıldırım revealed that Kartal had been upset after a bottle was thrown toward him during the match, while also pointing to the pressure surrounding the team.

The president made his position clear, saying Kartal would continue as manager and describing Fenerbahçe as a family.

Kartal’s resignation came after a frustrating evening for the Turkish giants. Roma took the lead through Bryan Cristante before Archie Brown equalised for Fenerbahçe. The hosts came close to finding a winner late in the match but were denied by the crossbar.

Fenerbahçe now face an unusual situation, with their coach publicly announcing his resignation while the club president insists he remains in the job.

For now, Yıldırım has made it clear that Kartal is expected to continue leading the team as Fenerbahçe prepares for a challenging Champions League campaign.