Fenerbahçe announces resignation of coach Ismail Kartal

Fenerbahçe have announced that they have ended their association with coach Ismail Kartal by mutual consent, following the team's loss to traditional rivals Galatasaray by a score of 1-2 in the match that took place in the 9th round of the Süper Lig.

The club stated in an official announcement released on Tuesday that Kartal informed the management of his decision to resign, before both parties reached an agreement to amicably end their relationship, thus concluding his tenure after the defeat in one of the season's standout matches.

The decision came just a day after the derby loss, which saw tension and clashes inside the stadium following the final whistle. Fenerbahçe had previously condemned the brawls that followed the match, while Galatasaray accused their rivals of making misleading claims regarding the incident.

Kartal admits to team mistakes after the derby loss.

Ismail Kartal spoke after the match about his team's performance, acknowledging that Fenerbahçe's level in the first half was not acceptable, despite a relative improvement after the break and scoring a goal.

The coach stated that the team finished the match with an unwanted defeat, noting that the coaching staff was in the process of evaluating the reasons for the loss internally, before closing the chapter on the encounter and focusing on upcoming commitments.

Fenerbahçe have dropped in the Süper Lig table.

The defeat against Galatasaray has increased the pressure on Fenerbahçe, who are in fifth place in the Süper Lig table, six points behind their rivals at the top and defending champions.

The club faces a new phase following Kartal's departure, as they await the identification of the coach who will take over the technical responsibility in the upcoming period. Meanwhile, the team is striving to regain its balance and reduce the gap with the leading teams.