AS Monaco are paying a €25,000 fine for each Ligue 1 and Coupe de France match managed by head coach Sébastien Pocognoli, after a licensing issue linked to his appointment came up.
Pocognoli, the former Belgium left back who took charge of the Ligue 1 side earlier this season, does not hold the Professional Football Coach Certificate known as the BEPF.
Reports indicate that he also lacks a foreign qualification recognised as an equivalent by French football authorities. And under Ligue de Football Professionnel (LPF) regulations, clubs must register a head coach with that certification or face a financial penalty on a match-by-match basis.
Each domestic fixture overseen by Pocognoli has therefore led to a fixed €25,000 sanction. The fine applies to league matches and French Cup ties, which has caused the total to rise steadily as Monaco’s campaign has gone on.
After more than a dozen competitive games, the accumulated cost has already reached several hundred thousand euros. The licensing rule is applied without regard to a coach’s playing career or prior experience. Pocognoli earned 13 senior caps for Belgium and played club football in England, Germany and the Netherlands before retiring in 2021.
He moved straight into coaching, working with youth sides at Union Saint Gilloise and within the Belgian national setup. He was later promoted to Union’s first team, guiding the Brussels club to the Belgian Pro League title last season.
