Mattéo Guendouzi Receives Two-Game Champions League Ban
Mattéo Guendouzi will miss Fenerbahce’s long-awaited return to the Champions League group stage after UEFA handed the midfielder a two-match suspension for his role in ugly scenes around last month’s playoff win at Lyon.
The 27-year-old, born in the Lyon region and a former Marseille player, stood at the center of the storm during and after Fenerbahce’s 2-1 victory on Aug. 26 — a result that sent the Istanbul club into the competition for the first time in 18 years and lit the fuse on an already hostile night.
UEFA’s disciplinary body ruled that Guendouzi committed “violations of the basic rules of decent conduct,” including insulting those present and provoking spectators. He was fined 50,000 euros ($58,000) and will sit out Fenerbahce’s home opener against Roma next Thursday, as well as the trip to Aston Villa on Oct. 14.
The punishment follows a series of flashpoints involving Guendouzi. During the warmup and again after the final whistle, he raised his middle fingers toward Lyon supporters and shouted “Allez l’OM” — a pointed salute to his former club Marseille in the home of their fierce rival. He also grabbed his crotch in front of the home fans amid wild post-match celebrations. Guendouzi later claimed Lyon fans had insulted his family before and during the game.
Greenwood on probation, Lyon coach hit with assault ban
Guendouzi was not the only figure in UEFA’s sights.
Fenerbahce forward Mason Greenwood received a one-game ban, but it has been deferred for one year and will only be enforced if he reoffends in that period. He was also fined 30,000 euros ($35,000) after being cited for violating rules of decent conduct.
On the Lyon side, goalkeeping coach Antonio Ferreira was hit with one of the heaviest sanctions. He received a three-game ban from Europa League fixtures, with an additional two matches suspended, after what UEFA described as “serious assault.” Television images showed Ferreira launching a leaping kick at Guendouzi during a post-game confrontation near the players’ tunnel, as tempers boiled over following the final whistle.
Club sanctions pile up
The fallout extended beyond individuals.
UEFA fined Fenerbahce 50,000 euros ($58,000) for violations of decent conduct and another 45,000 euros ($52,000) for fan misconduct linked to the fractious night in France. Lyon, who drop into the second-tier Europa League and open their campaign at Anderlecht next Thursday, were hit even harder: a total of 108,500 euros ($126,000) across a series of disciplinary charges.
The sanctions land just as Fenerbahce try to re-establish themselves among Europe’s elite after years in the shadow of domestic rival Galatasaray, who will also compete in this season’s Champions League. The Istanbul club invested heavily in the offseason, bringing in Guendouzi and Greenwood as headline arrivals.
Now, two of their most talked-about signings start Europe’s biggest stage on the sidelines — and the club’s long-awaited return comes with a disciplinary warning already ringing in their ears.
