Olympique Lyon manager, Paulo Fonseca, has been handed a nine-month suspension, following his outburst during his side’s French Ligue 1 clash against Brest last weekend.
The 52-year-old was sent off for dissent after he appeared to shove his face into referee, Benoit Millot, which was reportedly considered as an attempted headbutt.
This led the French Professional League to ban Fonseca from entering the changing room before, during or after matches until September 15, 2025. In addition, the Portuguese tactician has a touchline ban until November 29th.
“The commission deplores that once again, a major player in Ligue 1 has adopted such behaviour and renounced a requirement and an ambition of responsibility,” Sebastien Denuex, president of the disciplinary committee, said.
Denuex added, “Mr. Fonseca is a Ligue 1 coach. He is above all an educator. It goes without saying that this attitude is strictly incompatible with these functions. The committee found that Mr Fonseca’s attitude, throwing himself towards the referee, yelling at him, to the point that they found themselves head to head, is an attitude characteristic of intimidating and threatening behaviour.”
The sanction on the Lyon manager is one of the longest managerial bans in history.