Guendouzi Sparks Mass Brawl After Taunting Lyon Fans in Champions League Play-Off
Matteo Guendouzi's provocative celebrations after Fenerbahce's win over Lyon sparked chaos, leading to a violent confrontation involving players and staff.
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Matteo Guendouzi was at the centre of a wild mass brawl after his taunting antics following Fenerbahce's qualification for this season's Champions League pushed Lyon players, fans and backroom staff to breaking point.
The 27-year-old French midfielder, who previously lined up for Lyon's fierce rivals Marseille, did little to hide his delight as Fenerbahce sealed their place in Europe's top club competition.
After a 1-1 draw in Turkey in the first leg, the Turkish Super Lig outfit won the second leg 2-1 in France.
Guendouzi had already wound up the home crowd during the pre-match warm-up by flashing a middle finger in their direction. When the final whistle blew, video footage showed him standing arms wide open with a smug grin, visibly revelling in Lyon's Champions League exit.
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That was enough to tip Lyon players over the edge. Several of them shoved the midfielder before a larger group of Fenerbahce players surged in to back him up, including striker Romelu Lukaku and former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson. What followed was a full-blown confrontation involving players and backroom staff from both sides.
Rather than letting things cool down, Guendouzi kept going. As he made his way down the tunnel, he continued skipping and waving his arms despite teammates urging him to dial it back. Lyon supporters hurled missiles at him, mirroring incidents that had taken place during the match itself.
He then turned to shout at the raging fans in the stands. Moments later, a man in a white jacket, believed to be a member of Lyon's staff wearing the club's tracksuit, approached Guendouzi and attempted to assault him.
Fenerbahce players responded by pinning the individual against the wall, with Ederson heavily involved in the melee. Security personnel stepped in to prevent punches being thrown.
Fenerbahce will know who they will face when the league phase draw is done on Thursday.
We also highlighted facts about the upcoming 2026/27 Champions League league phase draw , detailing the new regulations that are set to shape this elite tournament.
With iconic teams like Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona vying for glory, fans are eager to see how these changes will influence the fierce competition for European dominance.
Martin Moses (Sports editor)
Martin Moses is a journalist from the Multimedia University of Kenya (2021). He has practised sports journalism for over eight years. He launched his career in media at MMU radio (February 2018-June 2021). Martin also interviewed distinguished sports personalities while at Sports 360 (2020-2022). He joined Sports Brief in April 2022 before transitioning to TUKO.co.ke where he is now the Sports Editor. You can reach out: martin.moses@tuko.co.ke