ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — 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 announced his resignation during a news conference following the 1-1 draw in Istanbul on Thursday. He did not explain why he was quitting just three months after taking up the position and refused to take questions.
“First of all, I congratulate my players for carrying out the tasks I assigned for tonight’s match to the letter. We played football worthy of the Champions League. We could have won the match; we had clear chances. The match ended in a draw, and I am proud of my players,” the state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Kartal as saying.
Kartal continued: “Tonight, I am resigning from my position — never to return. I extend my heartfelt thanks to my players.”
In a separate news conference soon after, club chairman Aziz Yildirim said Fenerbahce fans had hurled a water bottle at Kartal, describing the incident as a reason for the coach’s decision. Kartal was also upset by a series of social media posts, Yildirim said.
Yildirim insisted that Kartal’s resignation was not accepted and that he would remain at the helm.
“You saw the state Ismail was in. Can a person endure that much distress?” Yildirim said. “They threw a water bottle at Ismail Kartal’s head. We saw it. That is why he is upset.”
“Ismail Kartal remains in his post,” Yildirim added. “I said (to Kartal): ‘You will continue,’ and that was that.”
Kartal nevertheless, failed to attend training ahead of a Superlig game against Gaziantep FK on Friday, NTV television and other media reports said, deepening confusion over his status.
Meanwhile, authorities identified the fan who hurled the water bottle and barred him from attending games, Anadolu reported.
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