Guendouzi breaks silence on Lyon brawl: ‘I have the right to celebrate’

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Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Matteo Guendouzi has offered his excuses for his part in the remarkable brawl that followed Fenerbahce’s Champions League triumph away to Lyon on Wednesday.

The Turkish side secured a 2-1 victory over their French counterparts to progress 3-2 on aggregate yet the occasion was marred by angry scenes after the match that saw the two sides embroiled in a mass brawl in the tunnel.

This began after a member of Lyon staff fly-kicked Guendouzi, who had been vociferously celebrating in front of the home support for a prolonged period.

Guendouzi explains his celebrations after Lyon win

Guendouzi claims that he spent the evening being abused by Lyon supporters, who had targeted him as a former Marseille player, hence he reacted by showing the sign of iconic Marseillaise rapper Jul to the crowd, prompting further anger.

“I think you have to understand that throughout the entire warm-up, even before the match, the whole stadium and a lot of the supporters were singing a song insulting my mother, my family and my children,” he explained in a statement that was published on Fenerbahce’s social channels.

“When you have 60,000 people insulting your entire family for more than 120 minutes, it’s difficult. It’s never pleasant.

“The most important thing was to win, so at the end I celebrated the way I felt I should.

“You have 60,000 people insulting your whole family throughout the match, and then you’re not allowed to celebrate the victory? Of course I have every right to celebrate.

“I remained respectful because I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t do anything aggressive or anything like that.

“If you want to provoke, then it has to work both ways. They insulted my mother and my family, and for me that was disrespectful.

“So if we’re no longer allowed to celebrate the way we want after winning, then I think that’s a shame.

“Everyone knows that I support Marseille. I’ve never hidden that.

“It’s just banter. They insulted my family, so if I’m not allowed to do the Jul celebration afterwards, then where are we going?

“I’ve seen plenty of matches where Lyon players celebrate in front of the Marseille supporters at the Vélodrome. It has to work both ways.

“For me, I have the right to celebrate. The Jul gesture isn’t anything malicious.”

What happened?

Following Fenerbahce’s 2-1 win over Lyon, Guendouzi embarked on a prolonged celebration in front of the Lyon supporters.

He danced gleefully around the park and fronted up to fans as plastic cups were showered in his direction. Ultimately, Lyon players confronted him on the field after the game, sparking an angry confrontation between the sides that only grew worse as the players went up the tunnel.

Guendouzi, one of the last to leave the field to the sounds of chants against him from the Lyon ultras, was then fly-kicked by Lyon goalkeeper coach Antonio Ferreira, prompting a general brawl.

Ferreira faces the potential of being sacked by Lyon, according to Le Progres, while UEFA are compiling a report of the incidents, which are expected to see both clubs sanctioned.