The disciplinary commission of the French League has issued a ban on Lyon’s new coach, Paulo Fonseca, following an incident involving an altercation with a referee. Fonseca, who took over as coach just four weeks ago, was red-carded during Lyon’s recent match against Brest. As a result, he is prohibited from being in the dugout and the referee’s changing room until November 30. Additionally, he is not allowed to enter his team’s changing rooms until mid-September.
The commission’s president, Sebastien Deneux, stated that Fonseca’s aggressive behavior towards the referee was deemed intimidating and threatening. This ban may raise questions about Fonseca’s future as Lyon’s head coach, considering he has only overseen three matches so far.
This ruling comes shortly after Marseille’s president received a 15-match ban for making allegations of refereeing corruption. Deneux expressed disappointment in such behavior from prominent figures in Ligue 1, emphasizing that as a coach, Fonseca is expected to demonstrate a more appropriate demeanor.