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Lyon Manager Paulo Fonseca has been handed a massive nine-month ban after squaring up to referee Benoit Millot during Lyon’s 2-1 win over Brest at the weekend.
In a statement, the French Professional Football League said the Portuguese boss will not be able to be pitchside again until November 30.
He will, however, be allowed to enter the team’s dressing room on matchdays starting from September 15.
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Fonseca has owned up to his actions and he apologised to referee Millot immediately after the game, but it hasn’t been enough to prevent a historic sanction.
However, the seven-time French champions, who are currently sixth in Ligue 1, added they were disappointed Fonseca was “not judged on his actions alone, an emotional reaction, without any clear intention of physically attacking the referee” and were “studying all possible avenues of appeal”.
