Former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi gave the impression to be attacked by a goalkeeping coach after he sparked a wild brawl in surprising scenes on the finish of the Champions League play-off between Lyon and Fenerbahce.
Guendouzi goaded Lyon supporters as he left the sector after the Turkish aspect had booked their spot within the league section with a 2-1 victory on the Groupama Stadium.
The 27-year-old’s antics had been met with a livid response from a person wearing a Lyon tracksuit, later recognized by French newspaper L’Equipe because the membership’s goalkeeping coach Antonio Ferreira.
Chaotic footage taken from the stands reveals Ferreira rising from the tunnel and seemingly aiming a flying kick at Guendouzi as he walked off.
Gamers and employees from either side then rushed in direction of the tunnel earlier than a violent melee broke out, with punches thrown within the route of Ferreira as he was pinned towards a wall. Safety employees is also seen holding again gamers and coaches.
The incident got here on the finish of a tempestuous contest, with Guendouzi on the centre of the controversy.
Lyon’s goalkeeping coach appeared to assault Matteo Guendouzi in a fiery post-match brawl
Guendouzi had seemingly taunted Lyon gamers and supporters as he walked in direction of the tunnel
Stunning footage additionally confirmed Antonio Ferreira pinned towards a wall as punches had been thrown
Gamers and coaches from each groups had been concerned within the melee within the tunnel space
The previous Gunners villain spent two seasons at Lyon’s arch-rivals Marseille, and was seen giving dwelling followers the finger earlier than kick-off and through the recreation in response to a refrain of boos and jeers aimed in his route.
Tempers later flared on the pitch with studies claiming Guendouzi shouted ‘we’re f****ng you’ in direction of his opponents when his crew went 2-0 up.
Lyon gamers then reacted angrily at full-time and shoved the Frenchman earlier than his Fenerbahce team-mates, together with Ederson and Romelu Lukaku, rushed to his defence.
Guendouzi additionally reportedly taunted Lyon followers once more with a reference to Marseille, the place he made 103 appearances, as he walked off the pitch.
He seemingly ignored his team-mates’ makes an attempt to calm him down as he continued his celebrations together with his actions inflicting a post-match brawl that might land each golf equipment in scorching water with UEFA.
Lyon’s Corentin Tolisso hit out at Guendouzi after the fiery encounter. ‘It’s important to keep humble in victory, go rejoice that along with your crew within the locker room,’ he mentioned. ‘Effectively carried out, congratulations to them, however there isn’t any actual want to do this.’
It’s removed from the primary time Guendouzi has been concerned in controversy. He joined Arsenal in 2018 however left the membership after being banished from the squad by Mikel Arteta in the summertime of 2020 following an notorious spat with Brighton’s Neal Maupay.
Guendouzi – who had reportedly taunted Brighton gamers about their wage and skill within the conflict on the Amex Stadium throughout ‘mission restart’ – was caught by TV cameras grabbing Maupay by the throat on the finish of the sport.
Former Marseille star Guendouzi was seen repeatedly given the center finger to dwelling followers
Tempers flared throughout a dramatic second leg, which Fenerbahce received to progress to the league section
The midfielder by no means performed for the Gunners once more and was shipped out to Hertha Berlin earlier than he joined Marseille.
Guendouzi had been concerned in bother earlier than he moved to Arsenal. Throughout his time at Lorient, he was excluded from the primary crew for greater than three months due to a dressing-room conflict with team-mates.
Fenerbahce might be within the draw for the league section of the Champions League on Thursday following the victory, with Lyon dropping into the Europa League after a 3-2 combination defeat.
The Turkish aspect might be in pot three for the draw, which begins at 5pm UK time.
