‘They want to make an example of me’ – Paulo Fonseca hits out at 9-month ban | OneFootball

Paulo Fonseca will be on the sidelines tonight as his Olympique Lyonnais host Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. A rare occasion for the head coach who is serving a nine-month domestic ban after he confronted a referee during the 2-1 victory over Stade Brestois at the start of March.

An unprecedented punishment in the modern era. Despite this unique situation, results have been going well for Lyon both when Fonseca is sat watching in the stands or when prowling the dugout. His team have won all but three of their eight games under the former Lille OSC and AC Milan manager.

In an interview with The Guardian, Fonseca struggled for silver linings: “The only positive is that I get another perspective to watch the match. It’s easy to see where I am now. The most difficult thing is not being allowed contact with the players before or during games or at half-time. It’s harder to manage things. But we are well organised and have made good preparations.”

Fonseca feels his punishment is hard to stomach as he believes that he is being held up as an example after he went head to head with the referee: “Of course, what I did wasn’t correct, and I should pay for it. But I screamed at the referee, I didn’t make any contract with him or commit any [violence].”

He adds, “They want to make an example of me for French football. I think I’m paying not for what I did but for the moment we are in. But I shouldn’t be an example, I should just pay for what I did.” Around the same time as Fonseca’s outburst, the Olympique de Marseille president created a national stir following his corruption claims (later retracted) after his club’s 3-0 defeat to AJ Auxerre.

Next month, a hearing will take place where Lyon and Fonseca will attempt to appeal the ban.

GFFN | Nick Hartland