Rayo Vallecano midfielder Pathé Ciss has been handed a one-match suspension following his red card in the LaLiga defeat against Real Madrid, escaping a longer ban for the late challenge that saw him sent off.
The Senegal international was dismissed in the 80th minute of Rayo’s 2-1 loss at the Santiago Bernabéu after a dangerous tackle on Dani Ceballos.
Disciplinary authorities have since confirmed that the punishment will be limited to a single game, allowing Ciss to return quickly to league action.
As a result of the suspension, the 30-year-old will miss Rayo Vallecano’s upcoming home fixture against Real Oviedo, scheduled for Saturday at 13:00 GMT.
Beyond that match, he will be available for selection again, a decision that has been viewed as a relatively lenient outcome given the nature of the incident.
Ciss’s dismissal came at a critical stage of the contest, with Rayo already trailing, and further reduced his side’s chances of mounting a comeback against the defending champions.
Despite the setback, the midfielder avoided further disciplinary consequences after the review process concluded with no additional sanctions.
In the aftermath of the match, Ciss took responsibility for the incident and apologised directly to Ceballos. The Real Madrid midfielder accepted the apology, bringing a swift resolution to the on-field confrontation that had sparked debate following the final whistle.
Although he will be unavailable for the Oviedo match, Ciss is still expected to be recognised by Rayo Vallecano on the day.
The club plans to honour him during the fixture in celebration of Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph, a title he helped secure with the national team.
The suspension comes at a time when Rayo are balancing disciplinary issues with their ongoing domestic campaign. Losing a key midfielder, even briefly, presents a challenge, but the limited ban ensures the disruption will be short-lived.
For Ciss, the focus now turns to returning to action promptly and avoiding further sanctions as the season progresses.
With the matter settled and his apology accepted, attention will shift back to football, as Rayo Vallecano prepare to move forward without him for just one match.
