Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe was shown a red card for a strong tackle on Antonio Blanco during their recent 2-1 victory over Alaves. Following the incident, Mbappe promptly apologized to Blanco and his teammates for the red card, which was his first since 2019. The player faces a potential two-match ban, but there are indications it could be reduced to one, allowing him to participate in the upcoming Copa del Rey final against Barcelona.
The VAR audio revealed that the decision to send off Mbappe was influenced by the severity of the challenge on Blanco. The referee, after consulting the VAR screen, deemed the tackle as grounds for a red card. Speculation surrounds the length of Mbappe's suspension, with possibilities ranging from two matches to a potential reduction to just one due to his clean disciplinary record and lack of malicious intent. Despite the controversy, Mbappe's absence, even for a single game, will impact Real Madrid as he is currently their leading goal scorer.