Lyon’s new coach Paulo Fonseca has been handed a severe punishment by the French League’s disciplinary commission, which banned him from the dugout and the referee’s changing room until November following a heated confrontation with a referee.
The altercation occurred during Lyon’s 2-1 victory over Brest in Ligue 1 on Sunday, where Fonseca, previously with AC Milan, was sent off for his actions.
Fonseca, who took over as Lyon’s head coach just four weeks ago after Pierre Sage’s dismissal, now faces a complicated situation with an extended ban.
In addition to being excluded from the sidelines and refereeing areas until November 30, he is also prohibited from entering his team’s changing rooms until mid-September.
Disciplinary commission president Sebastien Deneux explained that Fonseca’s behaviour, which involved an aggressive outburst towards the referee, was deemed intimidating and threatening.
“By throwing himself at the referee and shouting at him, Fonseca displayed an unacceptable attitude,” Deneux stated.
The ruling casts uncertainty over Fonseca’s future at Lyon, as his tenure has already been rocky.
Since his arrival on January 31, he has overseen just three matches, which include a loss to Marseille, a 4-0 win over Reims, and the recent victory over Brest, leaving Lyon in sixth place.
The decision comes just a week after Marseille president Pablo Longoria was banned for 15 matches due to allegations of referee “corruption” following his side’s 3-0 defeat at Auxerre.
Deneux emphasised the need for high standards of behaviour from top figures in Ligue 1, adding, “Mr. Fonseca is a coach in Ligue 1, he is above all a teacher, and this attitude is completely incompatible with his duties.”
