Matteo Guendouzi just got slammed with a four-match European ban, with two of those games suspended, and a hefty 50,000 euro fine for his role in a wild, post-match brawl after Fenerbahce’s Champions League play-off win at Lyon. This wasn’t just some minor dust-up; it was a full-blown melee that rocked the pitch and tunnel, showing everyone that some rivalries just never die.
The Fiery Aftermath and Guendouzi’s Costly Taunt
The drama unfolded right after Fenerbahce clinched their spot in the league stage with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Lyon. Guendouzi, a former Arsenal midfielder who played for Lyon’s bitter rivals Marseille from 2021 to 2024, was apparently getting booed relentlessly by the Lyon faithful throughout the match. So, what did he do after the win? He appeared to taunt sections of the French home support, getting ushered away by his own teammates as tempers flared. But the real kicker, the one that set everything off, was when Guendouzi was seen shouting “Allez l’OM” right into a pitchside camera, a blatant shout-out to Marseille.
That move, a direct shot at Lyon’s fierce rivals, perfectly encapsulates why UEFA dropped the hammer on him. He was punished for “insulting others present at the match, provoking spectators and for violating the basic rules of decent conduct.” Video circulating on social media showed someone in a Lyon kit confronting the France midfielder near the tunnel, and then, boom, a full-on brawl erupted in the tunnel itself. Guendouzi, speaking after the game, claimed he felt “disrespected” by Lyon fans insulting his family, saying, “When you have 60,000 people insulting your family, your mother, your children, even before the game and no-one on the referee’s side tells the crowd to be quiet.” He added that he found it “disappointing” if players can’t celebrate the way they want afterward.
Bans and Fines Hit Hard Across Both Sides
But Guendouzi wasn’t the only one feeling the heat from UEFA’s disciplinary committee. Fenerbahce’s English striker, Mason Greenwood, also copped a one-match suspended ban and a 30,000 euro fine for “violating the basic rules of decent conduct.” Greenwood, who actually moved to Fenerbahce from Marseille in the summer, definitely played his part in the chaos. And it wasn’t just players either. Lyon goalkeeping coach Antonio Ferreira was slapped with an even heavier five-match ban, with two suspended, for “serious assault” during those clashes. Both clubs also got hit in the wallet, with a 50,000 euro fine each “for its team violating the general and basic rules of conduct.” This whole situation is a massive headache for Fenerbahce as they head into the Champions League group stage, losing a key midfielder right out of the gate. This isn’t how you want to start a new European campaign, that’s for sure.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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