Guendouzi's suspension reduced to one match, available against Aston Villa

Matteo Guendouzi will return to European competition on October 14 against Aston Villa. UEFA’s Arbitration Court has reduced his suspension from an initial four matches including two firm bans to three matches including two suspended — bringing his effective ban down to just one match of unavailability.

The incident dates back to August 26, during the Champions League playoff return leg between Olympique Lyonnais and Fenerbahçe. During that match — lost by Lyon, who missed out on qualification for the league phase — Guendouzi had an altercation with Lyon supporters. UEFA opened a disciplinary case and handed the French international midfielder a four-match suspension (two firm, two suspended) along with a €50,000 fine.

Fenerbahçe immediately contested this decision with the European body. A month later, the Turkish club announced in an official statement that its appeal had succeeded. “The ban sanction has been modified by UEFA’s Arbitration Court to a total suspension of three matches, two of which are suspended subject to a probationary period of one year,” the statement reads.

Guendouzi had already missed Fenerbahçe’s trip to Roma on September 10, the first league phase match. With that match now counting as the only firm ban retained, he is free to play from the second matchday onwards. The Istanbul club confirmed he will be available against Aston Villa on October 14.