Guendouzi sparks controversy after OL-Fenerbahçe defeat, UEFA suspension demanded

Mattéo Guendouzi sparked a general brawl at Groupama Stadium on Wednesday evening following Lyon’s 1-2 defeat to Fenerbahçe in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. The 27-year-old French midfielder, a former Olympique de Marseille player, multiplied provocations toward Lyon supporters throughout the evening.

During the warm-up, targeted by insults from the stands due to his Marseille past, Guendouzi responded with middle-finger gestures. At the final whistle, he continued with obscene gestures, the “Jul” sign and “Come on OM” chants directed at the camera, before jumping onto the pitch in front of the Lyon fans. These provocations inflamed tensions: a general brawl erupted as the player headed back to the dressing room.

UEFA is expected to open a disciplinary investigation into these incidents. Commentator Stéphane Guy, who was covering the match alongside Sydney Govou, designated Guendouzi as “solely responsible” and called for exemplary punishment. “I hope he will be heavily sanctioned, UEFA has the means to suspend a player for a very long time for this kind of behavior, even if it happened after the final whistle. We must be ruthless in the sanction. There were Argentines after the World Cup final who were suspended for nine matches. Guendouzi, we should not see him in the Champions League group stage this year, that’s all!” he declared.

In the mixed zone, Guendouzi defended his behavior, citing the insults he received throughout the match. “You know, when you have 60,000 people insulting your family, your mother, your children, even before the match… For 90 minutes, even more with the warm-up, they insulted my family. That’s something that touches you,” he explained. The player, who joined Fenerbahçe in January, added: “If you want to tease, then it teases both ways. Everyone knows I’m for OM, I’ve never hidden it. It’s just teasing.”

Thanks to this victory, Fenerbahçe qualified for the Champions League league phase, at the expense of Lyon. The ball is now in UEFA’s court, whose disciplinary decision will determine whether Guendouzi can participate in European competition this season.