Coach For Top Club Announces Resignation In Press Conference Immediately After Tie. President Refuses

A Turkish soccer coach quit his job in front of reporters minutes after his team’s Champions League opener, only for his own president to overrule him.

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Fenerbahce manager Ismail Kartal told a post-match news conference Thursday that he was stepping down, according to Turkish outlet Türkiye Today, hours after his side played to a 1-1 draw with Roma in Istanbul. The exit lasted only as long as it took the club president to respond.

Aziz Yildirim rejected the resignation outright, BBC News reported. In a statement posted to the club website, Yildirim said, “Ismail Kartal is still in charge. The club should support our coach.”

Yildirim added that “none of us knew about the resignation decision.” (RELATED: Argentina’s Lionel Messi Announces International Retirement)

Kartal framed his departure as a favor to the club he has served on and off since 1996. “I made this decision to clear the way for my club,” he said, according to Türkiye Today. “I will never come back. Good evening, everyone.”

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The 65-year-old cited the strain of the job and a mid-match incident in which a bottle thrown from the stands struck him, the BBC reported. The club later said it had identified the spectator and barred him from the stadium. Kartal had faced heavy criticism from the Kadikoy crowd since a derby loss to Besiktas earlier in the month, according to Dailysports.

On the field, Bryan Cristante put Roma ahead before Archie Brown leveled in the 48th minute, Türkiye Today reported. A late Roma penalty shout was waved off by VAR, and Nathan Ake rattled the crossbar for Fenerbahce, but the score held. It was the club’s first Champions League league-phase match in 18 years.

Brown appeared blindsided when told of the decision. “What do you mean he resigned?” the defender said. “He said this just now? I didn’t know about this.”

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Kartal, in his fourth spell in charge, won the Turkish Super Cup in 2014.