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.

(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.

The Minister of Sport, Marie Barsacq, has praised the actions of the Disciplinary Committee who have handed Olympique Lyonnais’ head coach Paulo Fonseca a nine-month ban following his outburst