Matteo Guendouzi was at the centre of heated scenes after Fenerbahce beat Lyon to reach the Champions League league phase, with his celebrations sparking a mass confrontation at the final whistle.

Fenerbahce's long-awaited return to the Champions League was overshadowed by chaotic scenes at the final whistle, with Guendouzi becoming the central figure in a mass confrontation.

The Turkish side secured a 2-1 win at the Groupama Stadium to complete a 3-2 aggregate victory, booking their place in the Champions League league phase for the first time since the 2008-09 season.

But celebrations quickly turned sour.

Guendouzi had already been heavily jeered by the Lyon supporters during the match, with his history at Marseille adding another layer to the hostility.

After the final whistle, the Fenerbahce midfielder appeared to taunt the home crowd before shouting “Allez l'OM” towards a pitchside camera.

The celebrations were followed by confrontations involving Lyon players and staff, with the situation eventually developing into a mass confrontation around the pitch and tunnel.

Why Lyon Fans Targeted Matteo Guendouzi

Guendouzi's previous spell at Marseille made him an obvious target for the Lyon supporters.

The midfielder spent three seasons with Marseille between 2021 and 2024, and the rivalry between the two French clubs added plenty of fuel to an already hostile atmosphere.

Reports suggest Guendouzi was jeered throughout the evening, including during the warm-up.

He later claimed the abuse became personal, saying his mother and family had been insulted throughout the match.

“They insulted my mother and my family for more than 90 minutes,” Guendouzi said after the match.

Guendouzi argued that, after receiving that abuse, he should have been allowed to celebrate his team's qualification in the way he wanted.

How Guendouzi's Celebrations Escalated Into a Mass Brawl

The first flashpoint came as Fenerbahce celebrated their qualification.

Guendouzi's gestures towards the Lyon supporters appeared to further inflame an already hostile atmosphere, with players subsequently becoming involved in an argument on the pitch.

Teammates and coaching staff attempted to separate those involved, but tensions continued as both teams moved towards the tunnel.

Footage circulating online showed a large number of players and staff becoming caught up in the confrontation.

However, the available footage does not establish the complete sequence of events or identify everyone involved.

Reports have also described a Lyon staff member attempting to confront Guendouzi as the situation moved towards the tunnel.

Lyon captain Corentin Tolisso subsequently criticised Guendouzi's behaviour, saying the Fenerbahce midfielder should not have reacted in that way.

Could Matteo Guendouzi Face UEFA Punishment?

The incident could now come under UEFA's disciplinary review.

Guendouzi's gestures towards the supporters could be reviewed alongside the wider confrontation involving players and staff.

However, there has been no confirmed punishment at this stage.

Any disciplinary action would depend on the match officials' reports and the evidence available to the relevant authorities.

For now, the controversy overshadows what should have been one of the biggest nights in Fenerbahce's recent history.

Fenerbahce Return to the Champions League After 17 Years

Away from the chaos, Fenerbahce had achieved one of their most significant European results in years.

Goals from Vedat Muriqi and Archie Brown gave them a 2-1 victory on the night, while Malick Fofana's goal for Lyon wasn't enough to prevent the Turkish side from progressing.

The result completed a 3-2 aggregate victory and secured Fenerbahce's long-awaited return to the Champions League league phase.

Their last appearance in the competition's main phase came in the 2008-09 season.

Now they can look forward to discovering their opponents in the next stage.

But after a dramatic night in Lyon, it is the scenes at full-time, and Guendouzi's role in them, that are likely to dominate the conversation.

Fenerbahce are back in Europe's biggest competition. They just couldn't keep the celebrations peaceful.