Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca gets massive 9 month ban for referee altercation

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 6, 2025, 08:49 IST

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Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca has been banned until November after an altercation with a referee during their 2-1 victory over Brest. Fonseca, who recently replaced Pierre Sage, is further barred from entering his team's changing rooms until mid-September. The disciplinary action raises doubts about his future with the club.

Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca gets massive 9 month ban for referee altercation

Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca confronts a referee after being shown a red card during a Ligue 1 game in France. (Image: Screenshot)

Lyon's new coach Paulo Fonseca has received a lengthy ban from the French League's disciplinary commission following an incident with a referee.
The Portuguese coach was shown a red card during Lyon's 2-1 victory over Brest in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
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Fonseca, who joined Lyon just four weeks ago as a replacement for Pierre Sage, now faces severe restrictions on his coaching duties.

The disciplinary commission has prohibited him from the dugout and referee's changing room until November 30. Additionally, he is banned from accessing his team's changing rooms until mid-September.
"By throwing himself at the referee and shouting at him (Fonseca) displayed an intimidating and threatening attitude," said commission president Sebastien Deneux.

Fonseca's brief tenure at Lyon has included three matches - a loss to Marseille, a 4-0 victory against Reims, and the recent win over Brest, with the team currently sitting in sixth place.
This ruling comes one week after Marseille president Pablo Longoria received a 15-match ban for claiming referee "corruption" following his team's 3-0 defeat at Auxerre.
"The commission regret that once again a major figure in Ligue 1 has demonstrated such behaviour," said Deneux.
"Mr Fonseca is a coach in Ligue 1, he is above all a teacher, and it goes without saying this attitude is completely incompatible with his duties."

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