French midfielder says alleged abuse went beyond football as Fenerbahçe reach Champions League league phase
Mattéo Guendouzi has defended his provocative post-match celebrations after Fenerbahçe eliminated Lyon from the UEFA Champions League, claiming he and his family were subjected to sustained abuse from sections of the home support throughout the match and during the pre-match warm-up.
Fenerbahçe defeated Lyon 2–1 at the Groupama Stadium on Wednesday, overturning the tie after the first leg had ended 1–1 in Istanbul. The Turkish side progressed 3–2 on aggregate to reach the Champions League league phase for the first time since the 2008/09 campaign. The victory represent Fenerbahçe’s first successful two-legged European tie against a French opponent.
The result, however, was followed by a heated confrontation involving players and members of both teams, with Guendouzi at the centre of the controversy.
The former Marseille and Arsenal midfielder celebrated in front of the Lyon supporters after the final whistle, performing the trademark gesture associated with Marseille rapper Jul and shouting “Allez l’OM!” — a particularly provocative reference given the fierce rivalry between Marseille and Lyon. L’Équipe also reported that Guendouzi made an obscene middle-finger gesture towards the Lyon support during the aftermath.
Guendouzi subsequently explained his actions in the mixed zone, arguing that the provocation was a response to what he said had been directed at him and his family.
According to L’Équipe’s account of his remarks, Guendouzi said supporters had insulted his mother, children and family before the match and throughout the game, including during the warm-up. He expressed frustration that, in his view, officials had not intervened to address the alleged abuse.
“It’s something that touches you,” Guendouzi said in explaining why the alleged insults affected him. He argued that if supporters were permitted to taunt him, he should also be allowed to celebrate his team’s victory.
The midfielder also rejected the suggestion that his Jul gesture was inherently offensive, describing it as part of the rivalry and pointing to the longstanding hostility between Marseille and Lyon.
Guendouzi also argued that officials should have acted against the alleged abuse and referred to situations in France where stadium announcements can be made and matches can potentially be interrupted. UEFA’s current disciplinary regulations do provide mechanisms for dealing with misconduct by spectators and players, including sanctions for players who provoke spectators or engage in insulting conduct. UEFA regulations also allow a referee to suspend a match where racist or discriminatory conduct occurs, with further disciplinary consequences possible.
That does not mean, however, that every instance of offensive chanting automatically requires a match to be stopped. The circumstances, nature of the conduct and decisions of the match officials are relevant.
The controversy escalated after the final whistle when players and staff became involved in a confrontation on the pitch and subsequently in the tunnel. Reports from the aftermath showed security personnel intervening as tensions rose between members of the two teams.
For Fenerbahçe, the night ultimately belonged to the visitors. Goals from Vedat Muriqi and Archie Brown put the Turkish side in control before Malick Fofana pulled one back for Lyon. Despite Lyon’s attempts to find an equaliser, Fenerbahçe held on to win 2–1 and advance 3–2 on aggregate.
The qualification represents a significant achievement for Fenerbahçe, ending a long wait for a return to the Champions League league phase. UEFA confirmed that the Turkish club had not reached this stage since 2008/09.
For Guendouzi, meanwhile, the victory was overshadowed by an increasingly bitter confrontation with his former country’s football rivalry. His history with Marseille made his celebrations particularly inflammatory for Lyon supporters, while his insistence that his actions were a response to personal abuse has added another dimension to an already controversial night.