Kylian Mbappe has been handed a one-match domestic suspension ahead of Real Madrid’s crucial Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal.
The French superstar was sent off during Sunday’s tense 1-0 LaLiga victory away against relegation-battling Alaves secured by Eduardo Camavinga’s free-kick, having initially been shown a yellow card for a dreadful challenge on home midfielder Antonio Blanco late in the first half.
However, the decision was subject to a review by VAR official Jesus Gil Manzano and referee Cesar Soto Grado later upgraded the booking to a straight red after being sent to watch replays on the pitchside monitor at Mendizorrotza.
Mbappe was heavily criticised for the challenge, which many deemed as extremely reckless and fortunate not to have injured Blanco.
It has now been confirmed by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that the 26-year-old – along with Alaves defender Manu Sanchez, sent off in the same game for a bad foul on Vinicius Jr – will be banned for only one domestic match, meaning he will be sidelined when Real Madrid host Athletic Bilbao in their next LaLiga fixture on Sunday evening.
Mbappe is available for Arsenal’s visit to the Bernabeu in the Champions League on Wednesday night, while he will make a swift return to league action for Los Blancos’ short trip to face Getafe on April 23.
He is also free to play in the huge Copa del Rey final showdown against arch-rivals Barcelona in Seville on April 26, as well as the next LaLiga edition of El Clasico to be held just two weeks later in Catalonia on May 11.
Real Madrid host Celta Vigo in between those two crunch Clasicos, with games against Mallorca, Sevilla and Real Sociedad also still to come between now and the end of the season, after which they begin their Club World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in Miami on June 18.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side – who have won both the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup so far this season but were thrashed by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi in January – currently sit second in LaLiga, four points behind leaders Barca with seven matches left to play this term.
Mbappe has scored 32 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions so far since joining boyhood club Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer last summer.
Along with team-mates Antonio Rudiger, Dani Ceballos and Vinicius Jr, Mbappe avoided being banned for the first leg against Arsenal after UEFA investigated their conduct during the post-match celebrations that followed an eventful penalty shootout win over rivals Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last 16 at the Metropolitano Stadium last month.
Rudiger and Mbappe were both handed one-match bans for “violating the basic rules of decent conduct” that were suspended for a year, meaning both could play in the shock 3-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium.
Rudiger was fined €40,000, Mbappe €30,000 and Ceballos €20,000. No disciplinary proceedings were opened against Vinicius Jr.
