Lyon's head coach, Paulo Fonseca, received a nine-month ban from the French Professional Football League (FLP) following a heated altercation with referee Benoit Millot. The incident occurred during a match against Brest, where Fonseca confronted Millot in an aggressive manner, leading to his immediate dismissal from the game.
The FLP's disciplinary committee took decisive action by barring Fonseca from the touchline until November 30. Additionally, he is prohibited from entering the dressing room with Lyon players before and after official games until September 15. This ban marks another significant disciplinary measure in France's Ligue 1.
Fonseca, who has been at the helm of Lyon since January 31 after being dismissed by AC Milan in December 2022, apologized for his behavior in a subsequent press conference. The disciplinary committee handed down the sentence on the same day as Fonseca's 52nd birthday, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
"He jumped at me with an intimidating attitude, and I decided to send him off directly. It continued to spiral out of control." – Benoit Millot, referee
The confrontation was deemed "intimidating" by Millot, and the FLP labeled Fonseca's actions as "violent conduct," violating league rules. Sebastien Deneux, president of the disciplinary committee, emphasized the seriousness of the behavior.
"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." – Sebastien Deneux, president of the disciplinary committee
Fonseca's ban is part of a series of hefty penalties imposed on key figures in French football. Previously, Marseille president Pablo Longoria received a 15-match ban for making corruption accusations against French referees. Similarly, Bastia manager Benoit Tavenot faced a 12-match suspension for removing a player from the pitch and receiving a red card.
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