Paulo Fonseca is serving a nine-month suspension from coaching duties, but the real test begins on May 6 when he’ll face the French Olympic Committee to plead his case. The Portuguese manager believes his punishment is excessive, stating he’s willing to accept the consequences of his actions but feels he’s being made an example of. “I have to pay, but I have to pay for what I did: shouting in the referee’s face,” Fonseca said. The incident in question involved Fonseca resting his head on the referee, Benoît Millot, after already being given a red card.
The Lyon manager was originally dismissed by AC Milan mid-season, a first in his career, and quickly took the helm at Lyon a month later. In hindsight, Fonseca wishes he took more time off between the two roles. “Between Milan, where I was fired mid-season for the first time in my career, and Lyon, I didn’t rest. You can’t imagine the pressure of coaching Milan,” he admitted to L’Equipe.
Fonseca’s suspension means he can’t sit on the Lyon bench for nine months, but he won’t be entirely absent from Old Trafford for the Europa League clash against Manchester United. “It’s very hard being away from the pitch, away from the players, away from key moments in the locker room before the game,” Fonseca explained, highlighting the challenges of managing from afar.
For the Europa League match, Fonseca will be allowed to sit on the bench, a change he believes will make a big difference. “We organized things, but it’s completely different living those moments with the players, motivating them live, and above all, being able to act at halftime,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Fonseca believes his suspension has had an unexpected benefit – it has brought the Lyon team closer together. “It strengthened the group and their will to fight. It united the locker room, and the club staff are also more united,” he noted.
Fonseca’s hearing with the French Olympic Committee on May 6 will determine whether his suspension will be reduced. He hopes to make his case and have the ban lifted or shortened. The current suspension runs until November 30, and Fonseca believes it’s unfair to extend it beyond the current season.
A video of the incident showing Fonseca being expelled and confronting Benoît Millot has been shared on social media.
Paulo Fonseca sendo expulso e partindo para cima de Benoît Millot. pic.twitter.com/XDk38Llo6i
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