Mattéo Guendouzi has been handed down. After giving the middle finger to Lyon supporters and the provocations that accompanied the heated Champions League playoff second leg between OL and Fenerbahçe, the French midfielder has been suspended for four matches and fined €50,000 . Two of the four matches, however, are suspended for one year.
This decision comes a little over a week after Olympique Lyonnais were eliminated by Fenerbahçe , following a particularly tense second leg playoff at Groupama Stadium.
Four-match suspension, two of which are suspended.
The sanction imposed on Mattéo Guendouzi isn't particularly severe: a €50,000 fine and a four-match suspension from European club competitions in which he would normally have been eligible. However, two of these four matches come with a one-year probationary period. In practical terms, Guendouzi must therefore serve two matches of the suspension immediately, while the other two will remain suspended for a year. The Frenchman is being sanctioned for having "insulted people present at the match, provoked spectators, and violated fundamental rules of good conduct . "
A middle finger during the warm-up
The evening began in a tense atmosphere even before kickoff. Former Olympique de Marseille player Mattéo Guendouzi was heavily booed by a section of the Lyon fans during his warm-up. The midfielder responded by giving the Groupama Stadium stands several obscene gestures. The tension remained high throughout the match before erupting after the final whistle. On the pitch, Fenerbahçe eliminated Lyon from the Champions League and secured their place in the group stage of the competition.
"Go OM!", signs Jul, and a scuffle breaks out after the match
After Fenerbahçe's qualification, Guendouzi continued his provocations. Facing Lyon supporters, the former Marseille player notably made the hand gesture popularized by Jul before shouting "Allez l'OM!" in front of a camera. The situation then escalated on the pitch and in the tunnel leading to the locker rooms, with a scuffle involving several players and staff members.
Guendouzi explained his behavior after the match, claiming he had been subjected to insults throughout the evening: "They insulted my mother, my family, my children." He also defended his celebrations, stating that provocations could work "both ways ." These explanations did not prevent the initiation of disciplinary proceedings, and subsequently the sanction handed down this Friday, September 4th.
Mason Greenwood also sanctioned
Mattéo Guendouzi is not the only Fenerbahçe player to be sanctioned. Mason Greenwood, also a former OM player and involved in the provocations after the qualification, receives a fine of €30,000 and a one-match suspension.
Unlike Guendouzi, Greenwood's entire suspension comes with a one-year probationary period. Therefore, he does not have to serve any matches immediately.
The Turkish club was also sanctioned following the incidents: €95,000 in cumulative fines, notably for the use of pyrotechnics, disturbances in the public and breaches of the rules of conduct.
The OL goalkeeping coach suspended for five matches
The sanctions don't only affect Fenerbahçe. Antonio Ferreira, goalkeeping coach for Olympique Lyonnais, has been handed a five-match suspension, two of which are suspended for a year. He is sanctioned for "serious assault and battery" following the incidents that occurred after the match. He must therefore serve three matches immediately.
OL also received several fines, totaling €108,500, notably for throwing objects, using pyrotechnics and causing disturbances in the crowd.
