Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca has been suspended from matchday duties for nearly nine months after angrily confronting a referee during his side’s 2-1 win over Brest on March 2
Fonseca, 52, was sent off and aggressively approached official Benoit Millot, pushing his face toward him. The French Professional Football League (LFP) announced on Wednesday that the Portuguese coach is barred from accessing the bench, officials’ dressing rooms, and carrying out any official functions before, during, or after matches until November 30.
Additionally, he is prohibited from entering the team dressing room, pitch, tunnel, and corridors leading to those areas until September 15.
Lyon acknowledged what they called the “extreme severity of the unprecedented sanction” and expressed concern over the speed of the decision. The club, currently sixth in Ligue 1, said they were disappointed that Fonseca was “not judged on his actions alone, an emotional reaction, without any clear intention of physically attacking the referee,” and are exploring possible appeals.
Fonseca, who took charge of Lyon on January 31 after leaving AC Milan, apologized after the incident. His side is set to face FCSB in the Europa League on Thursday (17:45 GMT).
Millot, in an interview with L’Équipe, described the confrontation, saying, “He jumped at me with an intimidating attitude, and I decided to send him off directly. It continued to spiral out of control.” The referee added that Fonseca attempted to deliver “a headbutt,” leading to what he described as “slight contact of the nose.”
The incident comes amid rising tensions between officials and clubs in France. Last week, the French referees’ union warned of potential withdrawals if match officials or their families faced threats following comments by Marseille president Pablo Longoria. Longoria, who had criticized a referee appointment and alleged “true corruption” after a 3-0 loss to Auxerre, was handed a 15-match ban.
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No chill
He passed his boundary