Paulo Fonseca, the head coach of French soccer team Olympique Lyonnais, has been given a nine-month suspension after confronting a referee – a sanction the club described as “severe” and “unprecedented.

The manager's outburst at the end of Lyon's win over Brest resulted in an unprecedented ban that will keep him from the touchline through the end of November.

The Lyon manager's lengthy suspension comes with relations between French club officials and referees strained to breaking point

Ex-Roma boss Paulo Fonseca, the current manager of Lyon, has been hit with a nine-month suspension following an altercation with referee Benoit Millot.The French Football Association has barred the

Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca has been banned from the touchline at games for nine months for aggressively confronting the referee at a French league game.

(Reuters) -Olympique Lyonnais coach Paulo Fonseca has been suspended for nine months by the French Professional Football League (LFP), following a confrontation with referee Benoit Millot during his team's recent 2-1 Ligue 1 victory over Brest.

Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca has been suspended for nine months by the French Professional Football League (FLP), following his confrontation with referee Benoit Millot during his team's recent 2-1 Ligue 1 victory over Brest.

Lyon are expected to fine their manager, but the punishment from Ligue 1’s Disciplinary Committee is likely to be severe. According to RMC Sports, Fonseca’s offence falls under a category for which a 7-months suspension is advised. It remains to be seen whether the Lyon boss will receive any leniency for his immediate apology.