Guendouzi stands by his provocations at Lyon: "They insulted my mother and my family"

Mattéo Guendouzi has no regrets. On Wednesday evening, following the second leg between Olympique Lyonnais and Fenerbahçe in the UEFA Champions League play-offs, the French international midfielder sparked a general brawl in the tunnel by making obscene gestures toward the Lyon stands, making the “Jul” sign, and shouting “Come on OM” — him, the former Marseille player, wearing the colors of the Istanbul club that qualified for the league phase.

Questioned after the match, Guendouzi justified his behavior by the insults he claims to have suffered throughout the evening. “You know, when you have 60,000 people insulting your family, your mother, your children, even before the match, and no one in the refereeing team tells the stadium to be quiet…,” he said, believing that the referees should have intervened to calm the crowd, as he says happens in France.

“For 90 minutes, even more with the warm-up, they insulted my family. That’s something that touches you,” he continued, categorically refusing to apologize. For the player, his reaction was merely a proportionate response: “If you want to tease, then it teases both ways.”

Guendouzi also downplayed the significance of his gestures, particularly the sign associated with rapper Jul, a popular emblem of Marseille culture. “The Jul sign, there’s nothing mean about it. Everyone knows I’m for OM, I’ve never hidden it,” he stated, before recalling that provocative celebrations have already occurred the other way around, with Lyon players celebrating in front of the opposing section at the Vélodrome. “It has to work both ways. For me, I have the right to celebrate.”

The incidents that occurred at the tunnel entrance, which escalated into a general brawl involving players and staff members, should be subject to a UEFA disciplinary investigation. Fenerbahçe, victors over both legs, will compete in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League.