Lyon manager Paolo Fonseca has been handed a nine-month suspension following his dismissal in the closing moments of the Ligue 1 match between Brest and Lyon.
The Portuguese coach, formerly of AC Milan, reacted furiously to the referee’s decision to award a penalty to Brest, a decision that was later overturned following a VAR review. However, Fonseca’s protests escalated, and after being shown a red card, he aggressively confronted the referee, going head-to-head before being restrained by his own players.
Despite issuing an apology after the match, the disciplinary commission imposed a severe sanction, ruling that Fonseca will be suspended until 30th November and will not be allowed in the dressing room until 15th September.
The ruling raises serious questions about Fonseca’s future at Lyon. The 52-year-old, who celebrated his birthday just yesterday, was sacked by Milan at the end of 2024 before taking over at Lyon. However, with such a lengthy ban now in place, his tenure at the French club could be in jeopardy.
