Matteo Guendouzi says Lyon fans showed him ‘disrespect’ after Fenerbahce win

Matteo Guendouzi says he felt “disrespected” by Lyon supporters after claiming they directed abuse at him and members of his family following Fenerbahce’s victory in their Champions League tie.

The midfielder was targeted by chants and insults after the match, which ended in a tense atmosphere. His Fenerbahce team-mates rallied around him after the incident and offered their support.

“I felt disrespected by Lyon fans because of the insults they directed at me and my family,” Guendouzi told the media after the game.

He added: “If we cannot celebrate in the way we want after the match, I find that frustrating.”

Fenerbahce secured a 2-1 away win at Lyon in the second leg of the preliminary round to progress to the league phase of the Champions League.

The first leg had finished 1-1, giving Fenerbahce a 3-2 aggregate victory and securing their place in the main stage of European club football’s leading competition.

Fenerbahce offer support to Guendouzi

Fenerbahce manager Ismail Kartal said the entire squad stood behind Guendouzi following the events after the final whistle.

“As a team, we all stood by Guendouzi to support him,” Kartal said during his post-match news conference.

“We gave him our support, and that is what teamwork means.”

Fenerbahce’s successful run through the Champions League qualifying rounds means they will be among the 36 teams competing in the league phase.

The club will discover their opponents when the league-phase draw takes place in Monaco on Thursday at 19:00. The draw will confirm Fenerbahce’s fixtures as they return to the Champions League, the most prestigious club competition in Europe.

The victory at Lyon completed a successful qualifying campaign for Kartal’s side, who overcame the 1-1 draw in the opening leg by winning the return match on French soil. However, the result was followed by controversy surrounding the treatment of Guendouzi, with the player saying the abuse had extended beyond him to his family.

His comments came after an evening in which Fenerbahce’s players celebrated their qualification while also responding to the tense scenes involving their team-mate. The club’s backing of Guendouzi was underlined by Kartal, who described the collective support as an example of the unity within his squad.

Fenerbahce will now prepare for the league phase, having guaranteed their place among Europe’s elite after successfully negotiating the preliminary round. Their opponents will be revealed at Thursday’s draw in Monaco.