Following the decision of Olympique Lyonnais to refer the matter to the French National Olympic and Sport Committee (CNOSF) in order to challenge the suspension of Paulo Fonseca, the coach reiterated his feeling of injustice regarding this sanction. He expressed a legitimate hope that his situation could be explained before the NOCFS, pending a review of the decision which he considered excessive and without any justification. Fonseca insists on the need for a form of justice, affirming that Olympique Lyonnais is making every effort to obtain a more equitable analysis of the case.

The coach was optimistic about the possibility of a successful outcome, stressing the difficulty of accepting such a situation. He aspires to a reduction in the length of his suspension and to the possibility of finding the players’ locker room, considering this essential proximity to his role. Fonseca strongly criticizes the idea that its sanction serves as an example, citing precedents where coaches have committed more serious acts without suffering comparable consequences. He deplores an approach deemed archaic, recalling that the methods of the Inquisition have no place in the contemporary world.

Finally, Paulo Fonseca positioned himself as a professional respectful of arbitral work and French football, recognizing that his reaction, although inappropriate, was not representative of his personality. He states that he is in his third season in Ligue 1 and that he received only one red card during this period. He maintains that his punishment must be proportional to his actions, but not a lesson to others, reaffirming his feeling that the decision is fundamentally unjust.