Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca was suspended for nine months by the French Professional Football League (FLP), following his confrontation with referee Benoit Millot during the recent victory of his 2-1 Ligue 1 team against Brest.
The FLP said on Wednesday in a statement that Fonseca would not be forbidden to access the bench, the locker rooms of officials and to participate in all official functions before, during or after the matches until November 30.
Fonseca was sent deeply in the time to stop to react with anger to a potential Brest penalty.
After being cardboard, a furious Fonseca then confronted Millot and leaned very close to his face before being pushed back by the Lyon captain Corentin Tolisso. Fonseca tried to confront the referee a second time and was retained by a few players from Lyon.
The Portuguese coach apologized later.
“I just want to say that I’m sorry for what I did. I shouldn’t do it,” Fonseca told Dazn broadcaster. “Maybe we do things that are not correct. I’m sorry.”
The handball decision itself went to Var and a penalty was not given.
Millot said Fonseca’s behavior was unacceptable.
“He rushed to me with an intimidating attitude and I decided to send him directly,” he told Sports Daily the team. “There is, it seems, a slight contact with the nose. (It was) a particularly intimidating aggressive attitude, which can hardly imagine a professional coach.”
The French referees union said that last week, its members would exercise their right to resign if they or their families were in danger after a match manager had faced a “hatred of hatred” following comments made by Marseille president Pablo Longoria.
Reuters’ information contributed to this report.
