Istanbul: Turkish club Fenerbah§e announced that Ismail Kartal will remain as head coach of the first football team, despite his resignation announcement following the draw with Italian side Roma in the first round of the Champions League group stage.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the club stated in a press release last night: “Our head coach, Mr. Ismail Kartal, remains in his position, and our team will continue preparations for the Gaziantepspor FK match with a training session tomorrow, Saturday, at 11:30 AM under the supervision of our head coach.”
Kartal had announced his resignation during the press conference following Fenerbah§e’s 1-1 draw with Roma last Thursday evening in the first round of the continental tournament, without explaining the reasons for his decision after only about three months in charge. He also refused to answer journalists’ questions.
The coach said: “I have been here for three months. From the beginning of the season until today, the training sessions and camps I have overseen with my players have been excellent. The president and coaches have tried to help us in every way possible. These have been wonderful days.”
He added: “Tonight, I am resigning from my position, and I will never return to it. I thank our players very much. I made this decision to pave the way for the club.”
Fenerbah§e’s management refused to accept Kartal’s resignation. Club president Aziz Yildirim revealed that the coach had been under pressure from the fans, noting that a supporter had thrown a water bottle at him, which he described as one of the reasons for the coach’s decision to resign.
Yildirim said he spoke with Kartal after the match, explaining: “He told me about the bottle incident and talked about the pressure he was under. He said he was taking medication. Ismail Kartal is like a son to us.”
He added: “In my 20 years as president, with the exception of two coaches, I have never parted ways with a coach before the end of the season. If we didn’t have the experience, we wouldn’t have been able to withstand this pressure either.”
The Fenerbah§e president confirmed his commitment to Kartal remaining with the team, saying: “I didn’t need to tell Ismail Kartal that he would stay. I told him: You will stay, and that’s it. I’m more senior than him. We are one family. There is no problem between us.”
He continued: “When the score was 1-1, a bottle hit him on the head. Then the fans started shouting without understanding what was happening.”
Yildirim called on Fenerbahce fans to uphold the club’s values, adding: “Those commentating on television are alienating people from the club. This is unacceptable. No one should spread false news. Criticize, but don’t spread lies.”
Fenerbahce is participating in the Champions League group stage for the first time since the 2008-2009 season, after overcoming Olympique Lyonnais 3-2 on aggregate in the qualifying play-offs.
The team is scheduled to visit Aston Villa at Villa Park for their second group stage match on March 14th.
Domestically, Fenerbah§e currently sits in ninth place in the Turkish Sper Lig standings with six points, earned from wins against Konyaspor and Samsunspor, and losses against Gen§lerbirligi and Besiktas.