The owner of Lyon, John Textor, supported Paulo Fonseca to stay in his role as a trainer after describing his almost nine-month touchline ban as “clearly too heavy”.
Fonseca was given the sanction yesterday after he had pushed the head of referee Benoit Millot in the face during the game on Sunday.
The Portuguese approached the official in anger, while the Var examined a criminal offense in Brest. The spot kick was not given, but Fonseca had already lost control and was properly sent.
The Ligue de Football Professional announced its sanction yesterday that the ruling Fonseca would take access to the shelter, the changing rooms of the officials and the official functions before, during or after the games until November 30th.
He is also forbidden to go to the team clothing room, the pitch, the tunnel and corridors by September 15.
Lyon immediately said that they would make an appeal, but there was also speculation that the club would try to cut relationships with Fonseca, even though it was only appointed at the end of January.
A little Fonseca overturns textor support
However, Textor thrown himself behind the former AC Milan boss, who had his 52nd birthday yesterday.
The American wrote on Instagram: “Happy birthday Paulo.
“I’m standing today and always with you. You made a mistake, your apology was sincere and your punishment is clearly too difficult.
“You are the right man for OL and we will hold out. Allez l’l! “
Fonseca will be on the touchline in Romania this evening in Romania
Lyon is sixth in Ligue and is in Romania this evening in the first stage of her Europa League round of 16 draws in Romania.
Speak on Monday, Millot said he was shocked by Fonseca’s aggressive approach.
The official said to L’Equipe: “He jumped at me with a intimidated attitude and I decided to send him directly. It continued to give out of control.
“He had an even more intensive attitude and actually tried to deliver one blow. A headbreaker. I didn’t even have time to announce the final decision, which turned out to be no punishment. It seemed easy to give the nose to be precise. “
Longoria also in hot water
Fonseca’s actions were made shortly after Marseille President Pablo Longoria with a ban on 15 games for comments that he made about referee Jeremy Stinat.
Longoria rejected objections to Stinat, which was appointed in Marseila’s game against Auxerre, which was lost 3-0 and was responsible for “true corruption” after defender Derek Cornelius was sent.
