The Lyon coach's outburst came on added time – with a 2-1 lead – when the referee awarded a penalty to the visiting team Brest. In addition to coming close to hitting the referee with his panna, Fonseca yelled at the referee and was sent off.
He has apologized for his behavior, but the verdict is harsh. The coach is suspended for nine months, according to French media.
Paulo Fonseca will not be allowed to coach the team during an ongoing match until November 30, writes RMC Sport, according to TV4's Fotbollskanalen. Until September 15, he will not be allowed to enter the team's dressing room before and after the match.
After VAR review, it was never a penalty for Brest and Lyon won the match 2-1.
