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 manager Paulo Fonseca has been handed a nine-month ban following a heated confrontation with the referee, ruling him out of all matchday duties until September.

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