March 6 – Referee abuse is on the rise in both professional and youth games, which is why it is imperative that the pros set a good example, however, that message didn’t get through to Lyon head coach, Paulo Fonseca.
The Portuguese coach has just been banned for nine months by the French Football Association after a verbal and physical confrontation with match official, Benoit Millot during Lyon’s recent 2-1 victory over Brest in Ligue 1.
Fonseca, 52, will not have access to the players’ changing rooms, the touchline, the tunnel leading to the pitch, until September 15 while he is also banned from the officials changing rooms before, during, and after matches until November 30, 2025.
The incident that caused this issue occurred as the match was in the closing stages with Brest on the attack. A foul in the Lyon 18-yard box resulted in a penalty, however, after a VAR review, Millot, decided not to award the spot-kick. Before the VAR decision was announced though, Fonseca angrily confronted, Millot, resulting in a straight red card.
Fonseca, then made contact with Millot’s head in what can only be deemed in an aggressive manner. His own players then moved in and ushered their coach away from the referee.
In an interview published by L’Equipe, Millot said things got out of control.
“He jumped at me with an intimidating attitude, and I decided to send him off directly. It continued to spiral out of control.
“He had an even more intense attitude, attempting to deliver a blow, in fact…a head-butt,” Millot told the French newspaper.
“I didn’t even have time to announce the final decision, which turned out to be not awarding a penalty,” he added. “There seemed to be a slight contact of the nose, to be precise.”
For his part, Fonseca apologised, telling broadcaster DAZN: “I should not have done it. Maybe we do things that are not right. I’m sorry.” Fonseca also wrote a letter to match officials to express his remorse.
The French referee union, SAFE, released a statement condemning Fonseca’s actions, describing the incident as “distressing, unacceptable, shameful.”
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1741438105labto1741438105ofdlr1741438105owedi1741438105sni@o1741438105fni1741438105