France international Mattéo Guendouzi was at the centre of ugly scenes as Fenerbahce beat Olympique Lyonnais in their Champions League playoff return leg on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, with a brawl breaking out between players and staff from both sides after the final whistle.
Fenerbahce reached the Champions League league phase by winning the tie 2-1 on aggregate, after the first leg had finished 1-1 the previous week.
Guendouzi had spent the evening provoking the home crowd. The Fenerbahce midfielder opened the night with an obscene hand gesture directed at Lyon supporters as he went out to warm up, amid whistles and insults from the crowd at the Parc OL.
Guendouzi's celebrations spark first flashpoint
Guendouzi, 27, played for Olympique de Marseille between 2021 and 2023, one of Lyon's fiercest rivals in French football. His celebrations after the win triggered an initial altercation on the pitch involving players from both sides.
He then went back to taunt the Lyon crowd further, shouting "Allez l'OM" (Come on Marseille) and making the hand sign associated with Marseille rapper Jul.
Guendouzi later explained his behaviour, saying supporters had insulted his family and questioning where things would end if he was not allowed to make the Jul sign in response. He said he had seen matches in which Lyon players celebrated in front of the crowd at the Velodrome, Marseille's home stadium, and argued that this kind of thing should work both ways. He said he believed he had the right to celebrate, and that the Jul gesture carried nothing malicious.
Tolisso calls Guendouzi's actions 'irresponsible'
Lyon captain Corentin Tolisso tried to calm his former France teammate down on the pitch. Tolisso said he had simply told Guendouzi to go and celebrate with his own team and to stay humble in victory, and to leave Lyon's supporters alone given they were already frustrated enough.
Tolisso said he considered that kind of behaviour irresponsible, and added that he hoped Guendouzi would learn from the incident.
Clashes outside the stadium
Separate incidents between rival supporters were also reported on the forecourt outside the stadium after the match, which required the intervention of France's CRS riot police.
Fenerbahce's win sends the Turkish club through to the Champions League league phase, the competition's group stage in which clubs are drawn against multiple opponents before a knockout stage decides the eventual winner.
