LYON, France (AP) — French club Lyon says it sanction Paulo Fonseca after the coach lost his temper and confronted a referee in an extraordinary outburst of rage during a league match at the weekend. Fonseca was sent off deep in stoppage time during a 2-1 win against Brest for angrily reacting to a potential Brest penalty.

Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca could be facing a seven-month ban after physically confronting the referee in his side's 2-1 win over Brest on Sunday, the latest incident in an ongoing row over the lack of respect shown to match officials in France.

(Reuters) -Olympique Lyonnais coach Paulo Fonseca has been suspended for nine months by the French Professional Football League (LFP), following a confrontation with referee Benoit Millot during his team's recent 2-1 Ligue 1 victory over Brest.

Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca has been banned from the touchline at games for nine months for aggressively confronting the referee at a French league game.

Yesterday, on the day of his 52nd birthday, Paulo Fonseca was handed a nine-month ban for confronting referee Benoît Millot in the dying moments of Olympique Lyonnais’ 2-1 victory over Stade

Lyon are expected to fine their manager, but the punishment from Ligue 1’s Disciplinary Committee is likely to be severe. According to RMC Sports, Fonseca’s offence falls under a category for which a 7-months suspension is advised. It remains to be seen whether the Lyon boss will receive any leniency for his immediate apology.

Paulo Fonseca, the head coach of French soccer team Olympique Lyonnais, has been given a nine-month suspension after confronting a referee – a sanction the club described as “severe” and “unprecedented.

Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca has been suspended for nine months by the French Professional Football League (FLP), following his confrontation with referee Benoit Millot during his team's recent 2-1 Ligue 1 victory over Brest.