Lyon head coach Paulo Fonseca is facing a potential suspension of up to seven months following a heated confrontation with referee Benoît Millot during his team’s 2-1 Ligue 1 victory over Brest. Fonseca received a red card after a review of a possible penalty for Brest, which was ultimately not awarded. Millot cited Fonseca’s “intimidating attitude” as the reason for his dismissal.
The referee later detailed the incident, explaining that Fonseca aggressively approached him, leading to an escalation. “He jumped at me with an intimidating attitude, and I decided to send him off directly. It continued to spiral out of control,” Millot explained. The situation became more volatile when Fonseca attempted to head-butt the official. “There seemed to be a slight contact of the nose, to be precise,” Millot added. Lyon players eventually intervened to separate their coach from the referee.
Following the altercation, Fonseca issued an apology. However, according to regulations set by the French professional league (LFP), the Portuguese manager could now face a lengthy ban. The league’s disciplinary committee will review the case and determine the appropriate sanction.
This incident comes amid growing tensions between French referees and club officials. The referees’ union recently warned that its members would consider withdrawing from officiating if they or their families were subjected to threats or harassment. The warning followed an intense backlash against a match official after comments made by Marseille president Pablo Longoria.
Longoria had publicly objected to the appointment of referee Jérémy Stinat for Marseille’s match against Auxerre on February 22, a game they lost 3-0. The Marseille president accused the referee of corruption, citing the red card shown to defender Derek Cornelius as an unfair decision. His remarks led to significant criticism and controversy, prompting the LFP to issue a firm response. Last week, Longoria was handed a 15-match ban for his statements.
With tensions continuing to rise between officials and club representatives, the LFP faces increasing pressure to maintain order in French football. The potential suspension of Fonseca could serve as a warning to other coaches and executives, reinforcing the league’s stance on protecting referees from abuse.
