Lyon coach Rudi Garcia says he was part of the decision to freeze out Houssem Aouar.

Aouar, a target for Arsenal and Juventus, will not play against Reims on Sunday after refusing to take part in a training session in midweek.

Garcia stated: "Aouar is not available. It made sense to take sanctions. I suggested some myself.

"The institution has taken the decision to exclude him from the group for Sunday. This kind of case must be managed internally. I respect this decision.

"I find that we were strangely at the heart of many controversies like that of Anthony Lopes or those of Rayan Cherki and Melvin Bard. There was also fake news."