The confrontation, which escalated into an ugly exchange, has led to the hefty suspension for the Portuguese coach.Fonseca was shown a straight red card during Lyon’s 2-1 win over Brest at the start of March and reacted angrily by squaring up to the match referee and pushing his head into the face of Benoit Millot. The Lyon boss subsequently apologised but has now been hit with a nine-month ban for his actions and is barred from the touchline, the bench, the dressing rooms and any official functions before, during or after matches until November 30.
The Bigger Picture
Referee Millot addressed Paulo Fonseca’s behavior following the incident, stating: “He rushed toward me with an intimidating attitude, and I decided to send him off directly. There was, it seems, a slight contact with the nose. It was a particularly intimidating, aggressive attitude, which is hard to imagine coming from a professional coach.” His comments shed light on the severity of the confrontation and the reason behind the disciplinary action.
What Has Been Said
Sebastien Deneux, President of the disciplinary committee, expressed disappointment over Fonseca’s actions, stating: “The commission deplores that once again, a major player in Ligue 1 has adopted such behaviour and renounced the responsibility and ambition expected of him. Mr. Fonseca is a Ligue 1 coach, and above all, an educator. This attitude is strictly incompatible with his role. The committee found that Mr. Fonseca’s behavior—throwing himself towards the referee, yelling, and getting into a head-to-head confrontation—was characteristic of intimidating and threatening conduct. As a result, the committee has imposed a suspension on Mr. Fonseca from the touchline and referee’s locker room until November 30, 2025. Additionally, due to the seriousness of his misconduct, this sanction extends to access to his own locker room before, during, and after matches until September 15, 2025.”
What Next
Fonseca, who joined Lyon in January after being dismissed by AC Milan, has had a difficult start to his tenure at the club. His recent suspension adds to the challenges facing the team. It remains to be seen how the ban will impact Lyon’s performance, especially with the coach sidelined for key fixtures. Currently in sixth place in the Ligue 1 standings, Lyon will face FCSB next in the Europa League, with Fonseca’s absence possibly affecting the team’s preparations and tactical adjustments.