Europa League
After a hard judgment: players celebrate coaches – he reacts emotionally
07.03.2025 – 00:17 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca must not look after his team from the sidelines for nine months after a freak. After the judgment, his players decide on an action on the lawn.
Moving scenes in the round of 16 in the Europa League between Olympique Lyon and FCSB Bucharest: After the meantime 1-0 for the hosts by Nicolas Tagliafico, the Lyon players were closed and demonstratively to their coach Paulo Fonseca, cheered him together with the Portuguese. This was visibly moved by the gesture, and tears that ran over his face to the 52-year-old could even be seen on TV pictures.
“Having experienced this emotional moment with my players was very important,” said Fonseca after the end of the TV. “I will never give up with my players, my coaching staff and my club tour.” Fonseca later even posted a short section of the scene at X, provided his message with a heart. “The action of his players will have done him well, since Fonseca had recently written negative headlines – and was punished hard.
In the league game against Brest last Sunday, Fonseca saw the red card in added time when he had gestured and screaming a possible penalty whistle for the guests. When referee Benoît Millot showed him the red card, Fonseca practically built up a millimeter before the referee and cried out from body strength.
The disciplinary commission of the French football league then announced on Wednesday: Fonseca must not be on the sidelines by November 30th. By September 15, he is also prohibited from accessing the changing room of his team on match days. The punishment immediately comes into force, the statement said. However, the punishment only applies to national competitions in France. Fonseca in the Europa League was able to stand on the sidelines again, see the ultimate 3-1 victory-and experience the moving gesture of his players.