Matteo Guendouzi has received a four-match Champions League ban after insults and provocations during Fenerbahce’s recent game against Lyon, though two matches are suspended.
Fenerbahce’s recent win over Lyon should have been a joyous occasion, with the Turkish side progressing to the Champions League’s League Phase via a 3-2 aggregate victory.
But the end of the game was marred by a post-match brawl, incited by former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi.
At the final whistle, Guendouzi ran to celebrate in front of the Lyon fans, making gestures towards the supporters before prancing across the field in an exaggerated manner. The provocation led to a mass brawl.
UEFA charged Guendouzi with violating the basic rules of decent conduct, insulting players or others present at the match, and provoking spectators.
UEFA have subsequently determined that Guendouzi must pay a €50,000 fine, and that he’ll be suspended for a total of four matches. Two of these matches are suspended for a probationary period of one year.
Guendouzi is now set to miss Fenerbahce’s opening Champions League fixtures against AS Roma and Aston Villa. He’ll then be allowed to return against Slavia Praha, but any future disciplinary incidents could see him banned again for two further matches.
Guendouzi did also pick up two yellow cards during the Champions League qualifying play-offs, which would have put him one away from a suspension.
But yellow cards are wiped after the play-offs, and you have to pick up four yellow cards in the League Phase to earn a ban.
That’s up from three yellows in previous seasons, due to a rule change this year. It’s now three to earn a ban in the qualifiers, but four in the remainder of the tournament, with yellows wiped after the quarter-finals.
With Guendouzi missing Fenerbahce’s first two games, he’d have to rack up bookings pretty quickly to earn a yellow-card suspension in the remainder of the League Phase.
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