Lyon are 'studying all possible solutions for an appeal' after manager Paul Fonseca copped a monster touchline suspension for shouting in a referee's face.
The Portuguese boss was shown a red card by referee Benoit Millot for dissent in stoppage-time of their 2-1 win over Brest.
When Millot displayed the red card, the Lyon manager marched up to the official, squaring up and screaming in his face.
Fonseca was booked earlier in the match before seeing red.
The 52-year-old was subsequently hit with a whopping nine-month ban for the confrontation, with his suspension to end on November 30.
In a brutal twist, the ruling was handed down on Fonseca's birthday, on the eve of Lyon's Europa League clash with Romanian side FCSB.
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The French giants have since hit back with a strongly-worded statement.
"The club deplores that its coach was not judged on his actions alone, an emotional reaction, without any clear intention of physically attacking the referee," the statement read.
"In light of a sanction that seems to be dictated by a deleterious context affecting French refereeing, OL announces from now on that it is studying all possible solutions for appeal.
"More than ever, the club is united and focused on its sporting objectives."
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Fonseca's furious rage fell under LFP's (French League governing body's) Article 8 regarding 'intimidating or threatening behaviour'.
The rulebook covers the following offences: "All words, gesture and/or attitude that could inspire fear.
"All words, gesture and/or attitude expressing the idea of prejudice to the physical integrity of a person.”
According to the rules, any manager or club staff member found guilty of this towards an official can face a ban of up to seven months.
Lyon's players knew the dangers of their manager's reaction at the time, and they were quick to intervene, with some even pushing him away.
But Fonseca decided to turn around and make his way back towards Millot before members of his squad stood between the two before two members of security helped lead him away.
Fonseca later issued an apology for his behaviour that marred Lyon's home victory.
"I apologise for this gesture," he said. "I shouldn't do that. Football makes us do bad gestures. The match was very difficult.
"Playing against Brest is always difficult, they are a physical team, they defended a lot. These are very important points."
Lyon captain Alexandre Lacazette also said: "It's part of football.
"I think he'll regret this gesture, but we'll see what the disciplinary committee says.
"It's tension. There are a lot of questionable choices. When you live the match, sometimes you can do things. We're all behind the coach."
Fonseca, a former centre-back, started the 2024/25 season as the head coach at AC Milan.
However, he spent just six months at the San Siro and left the club eighth in Serie A at the end of December.
The 51-year-old was appointed at Lyon a month later, which sealed his return to Ligue 1 following a previous spell with Lille.
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Victory against Brest was his third from five matches since completing his move and has them sitting sixth in the French top flight.
Lyon next face Romanian outfit FC Steaua Bucuresti in the Europa League on Thursday before a league clash at Nice, although Fonseca is set to be absent through his suspension.
