Fenerbahce coach Ismail Kartal announced his resignation after a 1-1 Champions League draw against Roma, stating he stepped down to clear the way for the club and would never return. Kartal, who returned to the Istanbul side in June 2026 for his fourth stint, thanked the club and congratulated his players on a match they could have won. Club president Aziz Yildirim swiftly rejected the resignation, declaring Kartal remains in charge and that as long as he remains president, Kartal is the Fenerbahçe coach.

Yildirim emphasized his authority, stating he tells Kartal to continue and that is final. The match saw Roma score first through Bryan Cristante in the 39th minute, with Fenerbahçe equalizing early in the second half via Archie Brown’s expert flick over the goalkeeper in the 48th minute. Fenerbahçe will next face Gaziantep FK in the Turkish Super Lig on Monday.