Lyon’s owner, John Textor, has thrown his full support behind head coach Paulo Fonseca, despite the Portuguese manager receiving a nine-month ban for a heated confrontation with referee Benoit Millot.
Fonseca, who recently took charge at Lyon, was punished after an altercation during his team’s 2-1 victory over Brest in Ligue 1 on Sunday. The French League’s disciplinary committee ruled that the former AC Milan boss had displayed an “intimidating and threatening attitude” towards the official, leading to a ban that prevents him from accessing the dugout and referee’s dressing room until November. He is also prohibited from entering Lyon’s locker room until mid-September.
On what should have been a celebratory day—Fonseca’s 52nd birthday—the ruling cast doubt on his future. However, Textor quickly dismissed any speculation about an early exit, reaffirming his confidence in the coach.
“Happy Birthday, Paulo! I stand with you today and always,” Textor wrote on social media. “You made a mistake, your apology was sincere, and your punishment is clearly too severe. You are the right man for Lyon, and we shall persevere.”
Lyon has criticized the severity of the punishment and is considering “all possible remedies” to challenge the decision.
Meanwhile, Fonseca will still be able to manage Lyon in European competitions, starting with Thursday’s Europa League fixture. His suspension applies strictly to domestic games.
The ban comes just a week after Marseille’s president, Pablo Longoria, was handed a 15-match suspension for making allegations of corruption in Ligue 1 refereeing. French League disciplinary head Sébastien Deneux lamented the increasing number of high-profile figures displaying misconduct, emphasizing that such actions are “incompatible” with their leadership roles in football.
