Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca has been suspended for nearly nine months for anger at the face to face with the referee.
Fonseca, 52, was sent out in a 2-1 win over Brest on March 2, pushing his face toward Benoit Millot official.
The French Professional Football League said in a statement that the Portuguese boss will be banned from entering the bench, the official’s locker room and perform any official functions before, during or after the game.
This punishment also prevented him from going to the team locker room, pitch, tunnel and corridor until September 15.
Lyon acknowledged the “extreme severity of unprecedented sanctions” and said they were concerned about the speed of imposition.
The seven-time French champion, currently ranked sixth in Ligue 1, is disappointed with Fonseca, “not “judging his behavior based solely on his behavior, an emotional response without any explicit intention to physically attack the referee” and is “studying all possible paths of attraction.”
Fonseca, who apologized after the incident, was only in charge of the club on January 31 after leaving AC Milan last month.
His team will face the Europa League FCSB on Thursday (17:45 GMT).
Millot said he was sent away for a potential fine against Brest because of his “daunting attitude.”
“He jumped up at me with a daunting attitude and I decided to send him right away. It continued to get out of control,” Milot told French sports newspaper L’Equipe on Monday.
“His attitude is stronger, and is actually trying to cause a blow. Head-bump. I didn’t even have time to announce the final decision, and it turned out that there was no fine.
“To be precise, the nose seems to be in contact.”
Last week, the French referees coalition said that its members will exercise their withdrawal rights after a match official faces a “influx of hatred” after comments from Marseille President Pablo Longoria.
