Fenerbahce coach returns to work after resignation confusion

ISTANBUL -- Fenerbahce coach Ismail Kartal returned to his duties on Saturday, contradicting media reports from the day before suggesting his resignation was final.

Kartal had announced he was quitting his role following Thursday's draw against AS Roma in the Champions League but the club refused to accept his resignation.

Kartal, nevertheless, failed to attend training on Friday ahead of a Superlig game against Gaziantep FK.

However, Fenerbahce released a statement late Friday saying Kartal would resume his duties on Saturday for the Super Lig match against Gaziantep on Monday.

On Saturday, the club's official X account showed photos of him at work.

Kartal had resigned to the surprise of the club and its players in his news conference following the 1-1 draw with Roma to begin the Turkish club's Champions League season.

"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," the state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Kartal as saying on Thursday. "We could have won the match; we had clear chances. The match ended in a draw, and I am proud of my players."

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."

Despite reports in Turkey that Fenerbahce official Oguz Cetin later met with Kartal but failed to convince him to stay, Kartal is now set to take charge of the team's fixture against Gaziantep FK on Monday.

Fenerbahce is 11th in the 18-team league.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.