PARIS – Lyon’s head coach Paulo Fonseca has been handed a nine-month suspension from the sidelines during games due to his intense verbal confrontation with a referee at a recent French league match.
Additionally, the French league announced on Wednesday that Fonseca will be prohibited from entering locker rooms or engaging with players on match days until September 15. This disciplinary action applies only to domestic competitions, allowing Fonseca to oversee Lyon’s European fixtures, including an upcoming Europa League clash in Romania against FCSB.
The incident that led to Fonseca’s ban occurred last Sunday when he angrily approached referee Benoît Millot over a possible penalty call favoring Brest during stoppage time, with Lyon leading 2-1. After receiving a warning card, Fonseca got dangerously close to Millot’s face, prompting Lyon captain Corentin Tolisso to intervene. Despite being held back by team members, Fonseca attempted another engagement with the referee.
This situation arose shortly into Fonseca’s tenure with Lyon, having taken the position in January under the club’s American owner John Textor, following his dismissal from AC Milan after a brief six-month stint.
Expressing his support for Fonseca, Textor declared on Instagram, “I stand with you today, and always. You made a mistake. Your apology was sincere and your punishment is clearly too severe. You are the right man for OL (Lyon) and we shall persevere.”
In a statement on Wednesday, Lyon voiced their disappointment regarding the decision, explaining that Fonseca’s actions reflected heightened emotions rather than any intention of physical aggression toward the referee. The club is mulling over an appeal, especially considering the broader criticisms of officiating standards in French football.
“The club deplores that its coach was not judged on his actions alone, an emotional reaction without any clear intention of physically attacking the referee,” stated Lyon. “The punishment seems to be dictated by a damaging context affecting French refereeing.”
Recently, Marseille president Pablo Longoria was also disciplined, receiving a 15-match suspension following allegations of referee corruption in French soccer.
