Monaco Incurs €425,000 in Fines Over Unlicensed Head Coach Pocognoli

Key Takeaways:

• Monaco have paid €425,000 in fines since Sébastien Pocognoli’s appointment in October due to licensing issues
• Attempts to list Damien Perrinelle as head coach for the 1-0 victory against Toulouse on 25 October did not avoid the penalties
• The club could be liable for up to €750,000 in fines by the season’s end if Pocognoli remains in charge without the required qualifications

Background on Coaching Appointment and Fines

AS Monaco have been subjected to €425,000 in fines following the appointment of Belgian Sébastien Pocognoli as head coach on 11 October, as revealed by L’Équipe. Pocognoli does not possess the BEPF or an equivalent recognised coaching licence that is mandatory for managing in France. Despite currently studying in Belgium, he is not expected to complete the necessary certification until the end of the season.

French domestic regulations impose a €25,000 penalty for each Ligue 1 or Coupe de France fixture managed without the required licence, although Champions League matches are not affected by this rule.

🚨💰 Monaco pay a €25,000 fine each time Sébastien Pocognoli manages in a Ligue 1 or Cup match, reports @lequipe. 👨‍⚖️

This is because Pocognoli does not hold the Professional Football Coach Certificate (BEPF) or its foreign equivalent allowing him to coach a Ligue 1 club. ❌ pic.twitter.com/w92pDbO3XS

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) February 12, 2026

Efforts to Circumvent Fines and Regulatory Response

In an attempt to circumvent the growing financial penalties, Monaco explored identifying assistant coach Damien Perrinelle as the official head coach. However, Perrinelle also lacks the mandatory diploma. For the 1-0 win over Toulouse on 25 October, Perrinelle’s name appeared on the team sheet as head coach, but this measure was unsuccessful and did not prevent the enforcement of the fine.

Officials subsequently abandoned this strategy, and have since left the head coach field blank on match documentation.

Pocognoli’s Match Record and Financial Outlook

Under Pocognoli’s stewardship, Monaco have contested 17 domestic fixtures, comprising 14 Ligue 1 matches and 3 Coupe de France ties. Given the penalty system, the total fines could climb to €750,000 should he remain in post through the season’s conclusion.

The potential impact of these fines was recognised during the October contract negotiations with Pocognoli, and the anticipated costs were reflected within the terms of the 38-year-old’s agreement.