Lille Suspend Manager Marcelo Bielsa Following Unauthorized Trip

Lille have provisionally suspended manager Marcelo Bielsa, the club have announced.

Reports in France say Marcelo Bielsa went on an unauthorised trip to Chile to visit former national team assistant Luis Bonini, who is battling with stomach cancer.

Les Dogues currently sit second-bottom in the Ligue 1 table after suffering seven defeats in their opening 13 matches, including a 3-0 humbling at Amiens on Monday evening.

The statement, which was posted on the club’s official website on Wednesday evening, read: ‘Lille has decided today to momentarily suspend Marcelo Bielsa from his coaching duties as part of a procedure initiated by the club.’

The club have not released any further details on the suspension.
It is not the first time Bielsa has been in the middle of controversy during his managerial career.

The 62-year-old insisted he would resign as Chile manager if Jorge Segovia was elected as president of the Chile FA, and he did in February 2011.

Bielsa’s previous spell in Ligue 1 ended after just one match in charge of Marseille in 2014 after leaving the role following an opening-day loss to Caen.

He was appointed Lazio head coach last season but lasted only two days after handing in his resignation.