Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca faces suspension until November 30, 2025, following a heated run-in with referee Benoit Millot during a 2-1 win over Brest on March 2.
The French Professional Football League (LFP) announced a ruling on Wednesday, March 5, barring the 52-year-old Portuguese manager from all matchday duties, the bench, dressing rooms, the pitch, and any game-related areas until September 15.
Paulo Fonseca is suspended for 9 months after this clash with the referee.
pic.twitter.com/PmSBfzptI7
— Epic Red Cards (@epicredcards) March 5, 2025The Clash That Sparked the Ban
Fonseca’s ejection came after a VAR review denied Brest a penalty. Millot called his reaction “intimidating,” alleging Fonseca “jumped at me” and “tried a headbutt—there was slight nose contact.” The LFP acted swiftly, sidelining Fonseca, who took Lyon’s helm on January 31 after leaving AC Milan. Now sixth in Ligue 1, Lyon slammed the “unprecedented” punishment as overly harsh, hinting at an appeal despite Fonseca’s post-game apology.
🚨Paulo Fonseca has been handed a 9 MONTH ban for an ‘attempted headbutt’ on a referee ‼️
He is banned from the touchline and changing rooms until NOVEMBER 🤯
It was his 5th game in charge of Lyon, and they were winning the game… 😬 pic.twitter.com/7CvGk4u2Yo
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 5, 2025The Paulo Fonseca suspension lands amid referee-club friction in France. Last week, the referees’ union threatened match pullouts over threats to officials, sparked by Marseille president Pablo Longoria’s “true corruption” jab after a 3-0 loss to Auxerre—he copped a 15-match ban. With Lyon set to face FCSB in the Europa League Thursday, the spotlight’s on how Fonseca’s absence shakes the squad.
The Paulo Fonseca suspension fuses referee drama with a club’s defiance—Lyon’s appeal looms as tensions boil.
