Lyon boss Paulo Fonseca hit with nine-month ban for shocking referee confrontation that forced his own players to intervene
Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca has been slapped with a monster touchline suspension for shouting in a referee’s face after being sent off. The Portuguese boss was shown a red card by referee Benoit Millot for dissent in stoppage-time of their 2-1 win over Brest. Lyon boss Fonseca was sent off moments before the full-time whistleAFP He got right in the face of Millot as he protested the decisionAFP Fonseca was booked earlier in the match before seeing red. The 52-year-old has since received a whopping nine-month ban for the confrontation, with his suspension to end on November 30. In a brutal twist, the ruling was handed down on Fonseca’s birthday. When Millot displayed the red card, the Lyon manager marched up to the official, squaring up and screaming in his face. His furious rage fell under LFP’s (French League governing body’s) Article 8 regarding “intimidating or threatening behaviour.” The rulebook states that the outburst was “intimidating, all words, gesture and/or attitude that could inspire fear. “Is threatening, all words, gesture and/or attitude expressing the idea of prejudice to the physical integrity of a person.” According to the rules, any manager or club staff member found guilty of this towards an official can face a ban of up to seven months. Lyon’s players knew the dangers of their manager’s reaction at the time, and they were quick to intervene, with some even pushing him away. But Fonseca decided to turn around and make his way back towards Millot before members of his squad stood between the two before two apparent members of security helped lead him away. Lyon players had to intervene as tensions boiled overAFP Fonseca could be in line for a lengthy ban@SalimLamraniOff X Speaking to DAZN via RMC Sport after, Fonseca issued an apology for his behaviour that marred Lyon’s home victory. “I apologise for this gesture,” he said. “I shouldn’t do that. Football makes us do bad gestures. The match was very difficult. “Playing against Brest is always difficult, they are a physical team, they defended a lot. These are very important points.” Lyon captain Alexandre Lacazette also said: “It’s part of football. “I think he’ll regret this gesture, but we’ll see what the disciplinary committee says. “It’s tension. There are a lot of questionable choices. When you live the match, sometimes you can do things. We’re all behind the coach.” Fonseca, a former centre-back, started the 2024/25 season as the head coach at AC Milan. However, he spent just six months at the San Siro and left the club eighth in Serie A at the end of December. The 51-year-old was appointed at Lyon a month later, which sealed his return to Ligue 1 following a previous spell with Lille. Victory against Brest was his third from five matches since completing his move and has them sitting sixth in the French top flight. Lyon next face Romanian outfit FC Steaua Bucuresti in the Europa League on Thursday before a league clash at Nice, although Fonseca is set to be absent through his suspension.
Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca has been slapped with a monster touchline suspension for shouting in a referee’s face after being sent off.
The Portuguese boss was shown a red card by referee Benoit Millot for dissent in stoppage-time of their 2-1 win over Brest.
Fonseca was booked earlier in the match before seeing red.
The 52-year-old has since received a whopping nine-month ban for the confrontation, with his suspension to end on November 30.
In a brutal twist, the ruling was handed down on Fonseca’s birthday.
When Millot displayed the red card, the Lyon manager marched up to the official, squaring up and screaming in his face.
His furious rage fell under LFP’s (French League governing body’s) Article 8 regarding “intimidating or threatening behaviour.”
The rulebook states that the outburst was “intimidating, all words, gesture and/or attitude that could inspire fear.
“Is threatening, all words, gesture and/or attitude expressing the idea of prejudice to the physical integrity of a person.”
According to the rules, any manager or club staff member found guilty of this towards an official can face a ban of up to seven months.
Lyon’s players knew the dangers of their manager’s reaction at the time, and they were quick to intervene, with some even pushing him away.
But Fonseca decided to turn around and make his way back towards Millot before members of his squad stood between the two before two apparent members of security helped lead him away.
Speaking to DAZN via RMC Sport after, Fonseca issued an apology for his behaviour that marred Lyon’s home victory.
“I apologise for this gesture,” he said. “I shouldn’t do that. Football makes us do bad gestures. The match was very difficult.
“Playing against Brest is always difficult, they are a physical team, they defended a lot. These are very important points.”
Lyon captain Alexandre Lacazette also said: “It’s part of football.
“I think he’ll regret this gesture, but we’ll see what the disciplinary committee says.
“It’s tension. There are a lot of questionable choices. When you live the match, sometimes you can do things. We’re all behind the coach.”
Fonseca, a former centre-back, started the 2024/25 season as the head coach at AC Milan.
However, he spent just six months at the San Siro and left the club eighth in Serie A at the end of December.
The 51-year-old was appointed at Lyon a month later, which sealed his return to Ligue 1 following a previous spell with Lille.
Victory against Brest was his third from five matches since completing his move and has them sitting sixth in the French top flight.
Lyon next face Romanian outfit FC Steaua Bucuresti in the Europa League on Thursday before a league clash at Nice, although Fonseca is set to be absent through his suspension.
