Fenerbahce coach Ismail Kartal failed to appear at training on Friday, Turkish media reports said, a day after he announced he was stepping down following a draw against Roma in a Champions League game but the club refused to accept his resignation.

Kartal stunned a postmatch news conference following the 1-1 draw against Roma by announcing his intention to leave the club, a move that club president Aziz Yıldırım swiftly rejected. "I have stepped down tonight," Kartal said. "I made this decision to clear the way for my club. I am resigning with the intention of never returning."

Kartal returned to the Istanbul side in June 2026 for his fourth stint. The announcement caught club officials off guard, prompting Yıldırım to address the media minutes later to override the manager's decision. "İsmail Kartal remains in charge. The club must support our coach. As long as I remain president, Kartal is the Fenerbahçe coach," Yıldırım said.

Fenerbahçe will return to action on Monday to face Gaziantep FK in the Turkish Super Lig.