Fenerbahçe drew 1-1 with Roma on their return to the Champions League on Thursday night, but the result was quickly overshadowed when coach Ismail Kartal announced his resignation at the post-match news conference, only for club president Aziz Yildirim to say he had not accepted it.
Archie Brown's equaliser in the 47th minute cancelled out Bryan Cristante's opener on 38 minutes in Fenerbahçe's first Champions League match for 18 years. Kartal, 65, who took charge again in June for a fourth stint, said afterwards that he was resigning "with the intention of never returning".
Cristante Strikes Before the Break
Fenerbahçe's return to Europe's elite competition came in front of a sold-out home crowd. The opening period was evenly matched, with Roma dominating possession while Fenerbahçe carried more threat in the final third, and Roma finished the night with 58% of the ball.