Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has been handed a one-match suspension following his red card in the team’s 1–0 La Liga victory over Alavés on Sunday.
The 26-year-old French international received a straight red card in the 38th minute for a reckless tackle on Alavés midfielder Antonio Blanco, which was upgraded from a yellow after a VAR review.
Mbappé, who has African heritage through his father, Wilfried Mbappé, a former Cameroonian footballer, will miss Real Madrid’s upcoming match against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) imposed the minimum penalty under Article 130 of its regulations, which allows for suspensions ranging from one to three matches.
The decision has raised eyebrows, as many expected a more severe sanction for what was deemed a dangerous challenge.
The RFEF’s Disciplinary Committee determined that the foul warranted a one-match ban, considering it comparable to another incident in the same match.
However, some experts have criticized the ruling, suggesting that the referee’s report lacked sufficient detail, which may have influenced the leniency of the suspension.
Despite the suspension, Mbappé will be available for Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26.
This match is crucial for Los Blancos as they aim to secure silverware in the domestic cup competition.
Real Madrid currently trail Barcelona by four points in the La Liga title race, making every fixture significant in their pursuit of the league championship.
