Guendouzi hits back after Lyon-Fenerbahce chaos: "60,000 people insult your family and nobody tells them to stop"

Matteo Guendouzi has broken his silence after starring in one of the most controversial images of the Champions League tie between Olympique Lyon and Fenerbahce. The French midfielder, born in Poissy in 1999, confronted the home crowd after the Turkish side's victory sealed their place in the next round, made obscene gestures and shouted slogans in support of Olympique Marseille. His public defense is as blunt as it is debatable: with 60,000 people insulting his family, he says, nobody tells them to stop.

• Guendouzi grabbed his crotch while facing the Lyon crowd after the final whistle.
• Several Olympique Lyon players confronted him over his behavior and the tension spilled into the tunnel.
• The midfielder repeatedly shouted 'Allez l'OM' and admitted he has never hidden his support for Marseille.
• UEFA will have to rule on the incidents that took place on Wednesday night in Lyon.
• The 27-year-old has played for Lorient, Arsenal, Hertha Berlin, Marseille, Lazio and Fenerbahce without ever finding stability.

What happened in the tunnel between Lyon and Fenerbahce

What began as a Fenerbahce celebration on the pitch ended in a brawl that was not confined to the field of play. Footage shows Guendouzi gesturing provocatively toward the French fans and grabbing his genitals. The reaction from Lyon players was immediate: several approached him to confront the gesture and the clash continued inside the tunnel, where members of both clubs became involved in an argument that required security staff at the stadium to intervene.

60,000 people are insulting your mother, your family, your children and nobody tells them to shut up.

Why Guendouzi shouted 'Allez l'OM' at Lyon

Guendouzi's provocation was not improvised. The midfielder used the tie against Olympique Lyon to claim his devotion to Olympique Marseille, the historic rival of the Rhone club. The chants of 'Allez l'OM' were repeated over and over again in the moments after the match, a gesture the player himself has justified without nuance: he has never hidden that he is a Marseille fan, the club where he played between 2021 and 2023.

What sanction could Guendouzi face from UEFA

The behavior of Fenerbahce's first-choice holding midfielder opens the door to a possible sanction from European football's governing body. UEFA will have to assess the incidents recorded on Wednesday night in Lyon, including the player's gestures toward the crowd and the subsequent tunnel brawl. The footage of Guendouzi touching his genitals and provoking rival supporters could cost him a fine or even a suspension ahead of the next round of the competition.

Guendouzi's wandering career: from Arsenal prospect to Turkey

At 27, the Frenchman has built a career that has never quite taken off despite the expectations generated in his early days. Gifted with good technique and a strong personality that has worked against him on several occasions, Guendouzi has worn the shirts of Lorient, Arsenal, Hertha Berlin, Olympique Marseille, Lazio and Fenerbahce. He played at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with the French national team, but he has never found the stability needed to establish himself as the elite midfielder many predicted he would become.

What is at stake for Fenerbahce in the next Champions League round

The Turkish side's qualification for the main Champions League draw keeps alive the hopes of a club looking to regain prominence in Europe. Fenerbahce, coached by Jose Mourinho, has invested heavily in experienced players such as Guendouzi, Edin Dzeko and Dusan Tadic to compete against the continent's biggest clubs. A potential suspension for their first-choice midfielder would be a significant setback just as the team needs its best players to face the decisive knockout tie.