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 boss Paulo Fonseca squared up to referee Benoit Millot in the dying minutes of their 2-1 win over Brest as he was sent off; the French Professional Football League have handed him a touchline ban until November 30;