The Lyon manager's lengthy suspension comes with relations between French club officials and referees strained to breaking point

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.