Paulo Fonseca has been banned from some matchday duties for nine months after confronting a match official
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Lyon's Portuguese head coach Paulo Fonseca (R) yells at French referee Benoit Millot (L) after receiving a red card during the French L1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais (OL) and Stade Brestois 29 (Brest) at the Parc Olympique lyonnais in Decines-Charpieu, central-eastern France on March 2, 2025. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP) (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD/AFP via Getty Images)
In an alternative universe, Paulo Fonseca could be managing under John Textor at Everton. Recent events do not make that a particularly enticing prospect though.
Under Textor, who was not shy in talking about his interest in buying the Blues last year, Lyon have run into severe financial difficulties. In November, the club were handed a provisional relegation for next season, meaning they could be playing in Ligue 2 should they fail to improve their finances.
Despite those issues, Fonseca has been able to steer the team to sixth place in the French top flight. However, he will not be on the sidelines for the next nine months after an explosive run-in with a match official.
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The 52-year-old, who has only been in charge for five games at Lyon, pushed his face towards to official Benoit Millot during Lyon's 2-1 win over Brest.
The French Professional Football League released a statement on Wednesday confirming Fonseca would not be allowed to access the bench, the match official's dressing rooms and take part in media duties before, during or after matches until November 30.
He will not be allowed in his team's dressing room, to the pitch or the tunnel until September 15.
The Portuguese coach has been linked with Everton on a number of occasions. The Blues reportedly courted him in 2016 after the departure of Roberto Martinez and then again in 2017 when the club sacked Ronald Koeman.
Fonseca was also mentioned as a possible candidate to replace Sean Dyche after he was sacked by AC Milan in December. However, on January 31 he was brought in at Lyon.
After Lyon released a statement acknowledging "the extreme severity of the unprecedented sanction", Textor took to Instagram to back his manager.
"I stand with you today and always," Textor wrote on Instagram. "You made a mistake, your apology was sincere...and your punishment is clearly too severe. You are the right man for OL and we shall persevere."