Lyon begin proceedings to overturn Paulo Fonseca’s 9-month ban | OneFootball

Paulo Fonseca, just weeks into his tenure at Olympique Lyonnais, was handed a nine-month touchline ban. The club have now begun attempts to overturn the LFP’s decision, as per Le Progrès.

Fonseca was handed a nine-month ban for confronting referee Benoît Millot in the dying moments of Olympique Lyonnais’ 2-1 victory over Stade Brestois earlier this month. The suspension handed down by the LFP means that the Lyon manager is banned from the touchline until November 30. The Portuguese manager is even banned from entering the dressing room before, during and after the game, until September 15th.

He has already served the first two games of that ban, which does not apply to European competition. Lyon were critical of the LFP’s ban for Fonseca, appointed at the end of January. “Olympique Lyonnais duly notes the extreme severity, unprecedented nature, and unusual swiftness of the sanction from the disciplinary commission regarding Paulo Fonseca,” said the Ligue 1 side.

The statement concluded: “In light of a sanction that seems dictated by a toxic context surrounding refereeing in France, OL announces that it will immediately study all possible options of recourse.”

From words to action. As per a report from Le Progrès, OL had been set to make their appeal through the LFP. However, it will now be made through the Comité National Olympique du Sport Français (CNOSF) in order to find a mediation. Depending on the response, a long procedure with the administrative tribunal could then get underway.

Lyon’s lawyers argue that, by banning him from the dressing room during the matches, Fonseca is being prevented from doing his job. This opinion is shared by FC Nantes manager Antoine Kombouaré, who evoked the topic upon the announcement of Fonseca’s ban.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle