September 14, 2026 Football Agenda: The Kartal Earthquake at Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Galatasaray's Title Race

As the fifth week of the Süper Lig season wraps up, Turkish football's agenda is dominated by a dramatic coaching saga at Fenerbahçe alongside a heated title race at the top of the table. Here is everything on the table as of September 14, 2026.

The Kartal Earthquake at Fenerbahçe: From Resignation to Return

The most turbulent story of the week undoubtedly unfolded at Fenerbahçe. Following a 1-1 Champions League draw with Roma, head coach İsmail Kartal announced his resignation at a press conference. What followed was a whirlwind of internal negotiations: sporting director Oğuz Çetin reportedly spent nearly two hours trying to convince Kartal to stay, an effort that initially appeared to fail as reports emerged that the two sides had officially parted ways. But the story didn't end there. Kartal reversed his decision and returned to lead training sessions at the club's Can Bartu Facilities the very next day. The club later confirmed in an official statement that Kartal would remain in charge. Amid the chaos, names like Antonio Conte and Vincenzo Montella were floated in media speculation as potential replacements — though this remained purely speculative, with no official contact confirmed.

Away Trip to Gaziantep Tonight

After days of turmoil, Fenerbahçe travels to face Gaziantep FK this evening at 20:00 at Gaziantep Stadium in Week 5 of the league, with referee Mehmet Türkmen in charge. Marco Asensio remains sidelined due to injury and will miss the fixture. All eyes will be on Kartal, for whom this match represents an important early test in his first official game since the crisis.

Beşiktaş Off to a Strong Start, Takes Top Spot

At home in Dolmabahçe, Beşiktaş thrashed Erzurumspor FK 3-0, closing the week atop the table on goal difference. The comfortable win, coming right after their derby victory over Fenerbahçe, gave the Black-and-Whites a significant morale boost. A contentious penalty shout in first-half stoppage time — involving Mustafa Yumlu allegedly pulling an opponent's shirt inside the box — also became a talking point of the match.

Galatasaray Grind Past Kocaelispor, Reclaim First Place

Galatasaray edged past Kocaelispor 1-0 at home, with the only goal coming from Abdülkerim Bardakcı in the 71st minute. The win allowed the Yellow-and-Reds to snatch back the league lead from Beşiktaş. Injury concerns persist for the side, however, as both Victor Osimhen and Mario Lemina missed the match due to fitness issues carried over from previous weeks.

Okan Buruk Lashes Out Over VAR

Following the Kocaelispor win, Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk delivered a scathing response directed at VAR official Christian Dingert, who oversaw the previous week's Champions League away fixture. Buruk's remarks reignited a wider debate around refereeing and VAR decisions that has increasingly dominated headlines in recent weeks of the Süper Lig.

Trabzonspor Begin Preparations for Galatasaray Clash

Trabzonspor kicked off preparations for their upcoming meeting with Galatasaray on September 19. Under head coach Hüseyin Çimşir, players who featured in the previous match against Konyaspor focused on recovery work, while the rest of the squad ran through passing and small-sided drills. The team is scheduled to have a rest day on September 14 before intensifying preparations.

Today's agenda may evolve throughout the day; follow official club statements for the latest updates.