Fenerbahce Coach Kartal's Resignation Refused After Bottle Thrown at Him
· Sports · Al Jazeera, BBC Sport
Fenerbahce coach Ismail Kartal quit his role following a 1-1 Champions League draw with Roma on Thursday after being targeted by a bottle thrown from the crowd. The 65-year-old manager told a press conference that he was leaving never to return to clear the way for the club. President Aziz Yildirim rejected the resignation minutes later, stating that Kartal continues in his role and calling the club a family. Kartal previously spent a decade at Fenerbahce as a player and returned for his fourth managerial spell in June. Fenerbahce have finished second in the Turkish top flight in the last five seasons and reached the Champions League league phase for the first time in 18 years.
Why it matters
The incident highlights tensions surrounding high-stakes European fixtures and internal pressures at top-flight football clubs, directly impacting Fenerbahce's leadership stability during a crucial continental campaign.
Read the original report — Al Jazeera
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