Guendouzi Sparks Brawl in Champions League Match, Faces Hostile Lyon Fans
In a chaotic Champions League tie, Matteo Guendouzi faced fierce hostility from Lyon players and fans after igniting a mass brawl during the match. The 27-year-old midfielder, known for his connection to Lyon’s fierce rivals Marseille, claimed he endured “disrespect” and personal insults related to his family throughout the game.
After the final whistle, Guendouzi celebrated exuberantly, raising his arms and mocking the stands. This triggered a chaotic brawl as players and staff rushed towards him, intensifying the already volatile atmosphere. The match saw Turkish side Fenerbahce advance with a 3-2 aggregate victory at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium, moving on to the league phase, with the draw scheduled for later Thursday.
Guendouzi received support from several teammates, including Romelu Lukaku and former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson. He was seen shouting at television cameras while continuing to engage with Lyon fans as he made his way to the dressing room.
Tensions escalated as projectiles were thrown in his direction, leading to an aggressive confrontation with a man in a white jacket, reportedly part of the Lyon staff. Security struggled to control the situation, and Guendouzi later spoke out about the hostile atmosphere he experienced.
“If 60,000 people are insulting your family, your mother, your children before the match even starts, and no one—not the referees or any other officials in the stadium—says a word,” he expressed to Turkish outlet Aykiri. He noted that in France, similar situations would elicit intervention from officials to halt matches, emphasizing the disrespect he felt throughout the encounter.
Guendouzi added, “It was a situation that really got to me, that deeply affected me. For me, it was complete disrespect. And on top of that, if we can’t even celebrate the way we want, to me that’s total injustice—it’s truly heartbreaking.”
Matteo Guendouzi was attacked by furious Lyon players and fans after sparking a mass brawl in a chaotic Champions League tie.
The fiery French midfielder claimed “disrespect” and insults towards his family throughout the match, given his affiliation to Lyon’s fierce rivals Marseille, where he spent three seasons.
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The 27-year-old let out relief at the final whistle, celebrating wildly, lifting his arms and taunting the fans in the stands before dozens of players and staff rushed towards the player in a chaotic brawl.
The Champions League play-off second leg saw the Turkish giants prevail on the night at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium, advancing 3-2 on aggregate to the league phase, with the draw taking place later on Thursday.
Guendouzi was supported by some of his Fenerbahce team-mates, including Romelu Lukaku and former Man City goalkeeper Ederson.
Matteo Guendouzi of Fenerbahce controls the ball against Lyon (Getty)
Guendouzi then shouted at the television cameras and continued to shout towards Lyon fans as he marched towards the dressing room.
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Missiles were launched in his direction before a man in a white jacket, thought to be part of the Lyon staff, aggressively approached him.
Security struggled to contain the situation, with Guendouzi eventually discussing the reason for the wild scenes.
“If 60,000 people are insulting your family, your mother, your children before the match even starts, and no one—not the referees or any other officials in the stadium—says a word,” Guendouzi said, according to Turkish outlet Aykiri.
“In France, when things like this happen, they would talk to the fans and tell them to stop, or else the match would be halted. But here, for more than 90 minutes—including during warm-ups—they insulted my family, my wife, my children.
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“It was a situation that really got to me, that deeply affected me. For me, it was complete disrespect. And on top of that, if we can’t even celebrate the way we want, to me that’s total injustice—it’s truly heartbreaking.”
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