LYON manager Paulo Fonseca faces a SEVEN-MONTH ban after squaring up to referee Benoit Millot.
The French side actually beat Brest 2-1 in Ligue 1 but drama unfolded in the dying moments of the game.
Vu la jurisprudence "Pablo Longoria", Paulo Fonseca va prendre 30 matchs de suspension. pic.twitter.com/lLn5fYbmVb
— Salim Lamrani (@SalimLamraniOff) March 2, 2025
Fonseca was previously shown yellow earlier in the game but he was sent off after Millot went over to the VAR screen to check for a Brest penalty.
The ex-Porto defender was livid with Millot, who then brandished the red card to send Fonseca off.
Fonseca squared up to the official in wild scenes and now faces a suspension over seven months, per the league’s rules.
His outburst falls under LFP’s Article 8 regarding “intimidating or threatening behaviour.”
The rulebook states his behaviour 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.”
Any head coach or club executive found guilty of this towards an official during a game faces a seven-match ban, as per the ruleset.
Fonseca, who joined Lyon in January after being sacked by AC Milan, apologised for his outburst.
He said: “I apologise for this gesture. 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.”
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”‘That’s why I’m the manager’ – Ruben Amorim hits back at Wayne Rooney as Man Utd boss aims to win Premier League” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6369532054112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Lyon captain Alexandre Lacazette added: “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.”
Lyon are now sixth in the table with PSG leading second-place Marseille by 13 points.
