Paris Saint-Germain have received a 3-point suspended point deduction after their director of football Leonardo bodychecked referee Alexandre Castro in the tunnel following a 1-1 draw with Valencinnes earlier in May.
The French Football League handed down the point deduction along with a 9-month ban for Leonardo today after reviewing the incident. The ban includes “the bench, the referees’ dressing-room and from all official functions.”
The point deduction for PSG is suspended, meaning it will only be applied if a club official commits “an equivalent fault” during next season.
Leonardo claims someone pushed him into Castro, but that’s definitely not evident in the video. It is believed he was angry with the referee for a silly red card issued just before halftime to Thiago Silva for placing his hands on Castro’s chest. PSG is appealing the decision.
French paper L’Equipe speculated that this could mean the end of Leonardo’s tenure with PSG, opening the door for Carlo Ancelotti to possibly take over both managerial and director of football duties, should he choose to stay.
It’s not the first time the Brazilian has thrown his body at others. He received a famous red card in the 1994 World Cup when he elbowed Tab Ramos in the head, fracturing his skull.
Watch the shoulder-check along with Thiago Silva’s soft straight red card here.
