September 12, 2026 Football News: Kartal Crisis, Champions League & Beşiktaş

As the weekend approaches, Turkish football is anything but calm. A coaching earthquake in Kadıköy, tough opening nights in Europe's top club competition, and Beşiktaş's surge to the top of the table dominated the conversation.

Kartal Earthquake at Fenerbahçe: Staying or Leaving?

Minutes after Fenerbahçe's 1-1 draw with Roma in the Champions League, head coach İsmail Kartal stunned everyone by announcing his resignation at the post-match press conference. After a water bottle was thrown at him from the stands during the match, Kartal made a "finished" gesture and later said he was stepping down to "clear the club's path forward." A chaotic night of talks followed, with some reports claiming he had been convinced to stay while others insisted the resignation had been accepted. Eventually, on September 11 the club issued an official statement declaring, "Our head coach Mr. İsmail Kartal remains in his position," confirming preparations for the upcoming Gaziantep FK match would continue under him. Still, some outlets report that background talks over a potential new coach continue — information that remains unconfirmed.

Fenerbahçe Held by Roma: A Cautious Champions League Start

On matchday one of the newly formatted Champions League, Fenerbahçe hosted Italian giants Roma at home. Bryan Cristante put the Italians ahead in the 40th minute, but Archie Brown equalized for the hosts in the 48th, sealing a 1-1 draw. The result was seen as a promising yet insufficient return to Europe's top competition after an 18-year absence.

Galatasaray Fall in Lisbon as Okan Buruk Slams the Referee

The same night brought another tough European test for Galatasaray, who traveled to face Sporting CP. The Istanbul side took an early lead in the 5th minute via an own goal, but Sporting equalized through Catamo before Luis Suarez's penalty and a Zalazar free-kick sealed a 3-1 win for the Portuguese club. Afterward, head coach Okan Buruk was furious with the officiating, criticizing the penalty decision and arguing the referee had a "direct impact" on the match, adding that the VAR official seemed to have not been watching the game at all.

Beşiktaş Storm to the Top with a 3-0 Win Over Erzurumspor

In the Süper Lig, the standout result of the week came from Beşiktaş. Hosting Erzurumspor FK at Tüpraş Stadium, the Black Eagles cruised to a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Emirhan Topçu, Leandro Trossard, and İlhan Fakılı. The victory pushed Beşiktaş's tally to 12 points, putting them clear at the top of the table with a game in hand — a strong statement of intent for the season ahead.

Süper Lig's Matchday 4 Continues Today

With the midweek European fixtures out of the way, attention turns back to the domestic league today. On Saturday, September 12, Eyüpspor host Çaykur Rizespor while Samsunspor take on Arca Çorum FK, and the day's headline clash sees TÜMOSAN Konyaspor face Trabzonspor at their home stadium. Corendon Alanyaspor's meeting with Göztepe rounds out another key fixture of the round, with results poised to further shape both the title race and the relegation picture.

The agenda may change throughout the day; follow official announcements for the latest updates.