Why Did Lyon Boss Paulo Fonseca Receive a Ban?
Lyon boss Paulo Fonseca has been handed a hefty nine-month ban for a recent clash and argument with referee Benoit Millot in a Ligue 1 match. Despite Lyon managing to win the match 2-1 against Brest in a Ligue 1 match, Paulo Fonseca let his emotions get the best of him and angrily intimidated the referee Benoit Millot by squaring up to him and pushing his head into the referee’s face as well.
After realizing what he had done, Fonseca apologized and however the referee sent him off instantly and he was banned from the touchline, bench, dressing rooms before, during and after any match and any official functions up until November 30, 2025.
Official Statement From Referee Benoit Millot Regarding Paulo Fonseca
“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 one can hardly imagine from a professional coach.”
Official Statement From President Of Disciplinary Committee
“The commission deplores that once again, a major player in Ligue 1 has adopted such behavior and renounced a requirement and an ambition of responsibility. Mr Fonseca is a Ligue 1 coach. He is above all an educator.”
He added, “This attitude is strictly incompatible with these functions. The committee found that Mr Fonseca’s attitude, throwing himself towards the referee, and yelling at him, to the point that they found themselves head to head, is an attitude characteristic of intimidating and threatening behaviour. The committee therefore sanctions Mr Fonseca with a suspension from the touchline and referee’s locker room until 30 November 2025. Because it also finds that this is serious misconduct, this sanction will also cover access to his locker room before, during, and after the match until 15 September 2025.”
What Is Next For Paulo Fonseca?
Paulo Fonseca just arrived at Lyon in January after being sacked by AC Milan. His start at the club has not been pleasant at all and this just adds more fire to it. As of now, Lyon are in sixth place in Ligue 1 and will take on FCSB next in the UEFA Europa League Round Of 16.
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