Former Milan coach Fonseca risks 7-month ban for gesture against referee | OneFootball

Former Milan and Roma coach Paulo Fonseca reportedly risks a seven-month ban after going head-to-head with a referee in today’s Olympique Lyonnais match.

Fonseca was hired by Milan over the summer of 2024 and fired on December 30 to make way for Sergio Conceicao.

The tactician had overseen only 24 matches, namely 12 victories, six draws and six defeats, but had already managed to rage at referees in Serie A too.

He was not out of work for very long, appointed by Olympique Lyonnais on January 31.

Fonseca’s fiery temper on show in Lyon too

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 29: Paulo Fonseca, Head Coach of AC Milan, reacts after he is shown a red card during the Serie A match between AC Milan and AS Roma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 29, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

It has been a mixed bag in Lyon too, as the Portuguese coach earned three wins and two defeats, including this afternoon’s 2-1 victory over Brest.

During that Ligue 1 fixture, Fonseca was sent off from the touchline for dissent, but then pressed his head against the forehead of referee Benoit Millot and screamed in his face.

This was considered a very aggressive gesture and will no doubt warrant a punishment from the French authorities.

Fonseca apologised on DAZN afterwards, admitting it was “the wrong thing to do” in that situation, but RMC Sport claim his ban could be as much as seven months.