September 13, 2026 Football Agenda: Kartal Crisis, PFDK Penalties and the Title Race
Turkish football went through a breathless weekend, with drama unfolding both in club boardrooms and on the pitch. Here are the topics dominating the agenda between September 10-13, 2026.
Kartal Earthquake at Fenerbahçe: Resignation Offered, Board Talks Him Back
A major crisis erupted at Fenerbahçe following the 2-1 derby defeat to Beşiktaş at Kadıköy. Partly rattled after being struck by a water bottle thrown from the stands during the match, head coach İsmail Kartal announced his resignation at the post-match press conference, saying he was leaving "for good." Club president Aziz Yıldırım said the decision came as a surprise even to him and quickly met with Kartal; following the talks, the experienced coach agreed to stay on after the board's persuasion efforts. According to insider reports, Kartal's frustration stems from the board's silence over critical comments from former Fenerbahçe players, as well as squad-building difficulties following the summer departures of Fred and Talisca. The saga has dominated club circles for days.
PFDK Gets to Work: Post-Derby Penalties Handed Down
The fallout from the Fenerbahçe-Beşiktaş derby landed on the disciplinary board's desk. The PFDK handed Beşiktaş striker Dusan Vlahovic a one-match ban and a fine of 100,000 TL for unsporting conduct toward an opposing player; Beşiktaş announced it would appeal the decision to the Arbitration Board. In the same session, Fenerbahçe's Kerem Aktürkoğlu was fined 500,000 TL, while Başakşehir's Umut Bozok and Göztepe's Ogün Bayrak each received two-match bans. Coaches were not spared either: Başakşehir boss Nuri Şahin and Erzurumspor coach Ziya Akçeken each got a one-match ban and a 100,000 TL fine, while Kasımpaşa's İlker Püren received a three-match ban. On the club fines list, Beşiktaş was hit with 555,000 TL, Trabzonspor and Kocaelispor with 280,000 TL each, and Galatasaray with 200,000 TL.
Beşiktaş Focused on Marseille: Close Watch on Rıdvan Yılmaz
At Beşiktaş, all attention has turned to the upcoming UEFA Europa League opener. Left-back Rıdvan Yılmaz, who was injured during the derby, was diagnosed with a strain and swelling in his left inner thigh muscle and will miss the Süper Lig clash with Erzurumspor as a result. The club is running an intensive treatment protocol in hopes of having the national team defender ready for the crucial match against the French side. Beşiktaş's Europa League league-phase opener remains one of the most talked-about storylines of the week.
Trabzonspor's Struggles Continue as Coaching Search Accelerates
The weekend brought no relief for the Black Sea club. Trabzonspor fell 1-0 away to Konyaspor courtesy of a Rajmund Toth goal, once again postponing their first away win of the season. Following the split with Fatih Tekke, the club's search for a new manager reportedly includes names such as Ernesto Valverde, Steven Gerrard, Raffaele Palladino, Dejan Stanković, Laurent Blanc and Paulo Bento. No official announcement has been made yet, and the process could gain clarity in the coming days.
Süper Lig Week 5: The Title Race Heats Up
The fifth round of the Trendyol Süper Lig has taken center stage this weekend. Galatasaray hosts Kocaelispor today at RAMS Park, looking both to extend their winning run and reclaim the top spot they lost to Beşiktaş after the derby. Elsewhere, Gençlerbirliği face Kasımpaşa in Eryaman, while Amed Sportif Faaliyetler take on İstanbul Başakşehir in Diyarbakır. Having leapfrogged to first place thanks to their derby win, Beşiktaş's form is under close scrutiny given both their league standing and their looming European test.
Today's agenda may evolve throughout the day; follow official announcements for updates.