AS Monaco’s decision to appoint Sébastien Pocognoli as head coach has come with a significant financial side effect. Since his arrival on the bench in October, the club has already accumulated hundreds of thousands of euros in fines due to regulatory requirements surrounding coaching qualifications.
Pocognoli, who stepped in on October 11 following the departure of Adi Hütter, does not yet hold the BEPF licence or an officially recognised equivalent required to coach in French domestic competitions. While he is currently completing his coaching education in Belgium and is expected to qualify by the end of the season, Ligue 1 regulations impose a €25,000 fine for every league or Coupe de France match overseen by an unlicensed head coach. European fixtures, including the Champions League, are not subject to this rule.
In an attempt to limit the financial impact, Monaco briefly explored an alternative administrative solution by naming assistant coach Damien Perrinelle as head coach on official team sheets. That approach proved ineffective, as Perrinelle also lacks the necessary diploma, and league authorities apply the sanction regardless of the name listed. The tactic was quickly abandoned, with the club opting instead to leave the head coach designation blank on match documents.
To date, Pocognoli has been in charge for 17 domestic matches — 14 in Ligue 1 and three in the Coupe de France — pushing the total amount paid in fines to approximately €425,000. Should he remain in place until the end of the campaign without qualification, the figure could climb to around €750,000.
Club officials were fully aware of the situation during negotiations with the 38-year-old coach, and the financial consequences of the fines were factored into the terms of his contract.