Real Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti said that Kylian Mbappe “is aware of what he has done” and asked to be forgiven after receiving a straight red card against Alaves on Sunday.
In the 38th minute of Madrid’s 1-0 win, Mbappe put in a late, forceful tackle on Alaves’ Antonio Blanco that saw the France forward catch the midfielder high on the leg with his studs.
Advertisement
Match official Cesar Soto Grado initially only gave Mbappe a yellow card but watched the incident on the pitchside monitor after a VAR review before sending off the 26-year-old. The referee’s postgame report said that Mbappe had used “excessive force.”
Ancelotti — who was stepping in for his father Carlo after the Madrid manager was handed a touchline ban for yellow card accumulation — said that Mbappe’s tackle was a result of frustration at challenges made on him earlier in the game, but said that the forward is “not violent.”
“I haven’t spoken to him. First of all, we have to say that Mbappe is not violent, he has asked for forgiveness, he is aware of what he has done,” said Ancelotti. “It’s a red card and he paid for it. Surely the many small fouls made him react like that. It’s not the way to react but surely what happened.”
Sources close to the club, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that Mbappe went to apologise to Blanco after the game. The sources said that, although the club accepts the decision, they wish VAR had been as effective in Madrid’s match against Espanyol in February.
Madrid were angered by a decision in that game to award Espanyol defender Carlos Romero a yellow card for a 60th-minute challenge on Kylian Mbappe, which was not upgraded to a red card by VAR. Club officials subsequently met with Spanish refereeing body CTA at the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) headquarters to listen to the VAR audio files from the game.
According to La Liga’s disciplinary rulebook, Mbappe is expected to be suspended for two matches, with the maximum sanction being a three-game ban. Rules dictate that if a challenge causes risk but does not produce “harmful” consequences or injure a player, a suspension will be between one and three matches.
Eduardo Camavinga scored the game’s only goal four minutes before Mbappe’s sending off. Alaves were also reduced to 10 players in the 70th minute when left-back Manu Sanchez was dismissed for a high challenge of his own on Vinicius Junior.
Madrid are second in the table, four points behind leaders Barcelona. They host Arsenal on Wednesday, looking to overturn in a 3-0 deficit in the Champions quarter-final second leg.
(Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Panthers double down at OLB. Is Jadeveon Clowney’s Carolina stint coming to an end?
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Friday night felt like a changing of the guard at edge rusher for the Carolina Panthers, with two coming in and one seemingly on his way out.Panthers general manager Dan Morgan traded up twice to take a pair of outside linebackers from the SEC — Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton and Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmielen, who will bring distinct pass rush styles when they arrive in Charlotte for next month’s rookie minicamp.Watching the second night of the draft unfold, you began to count the edge rushers on Carolina’s roster and wondered what had to give. It very well could be the former No. 1 overall pick and one of the most accomplished players on the roster.Jadeveon Clowney signed a two-year, $20 million contract in 2024 when the Panthers were scrambling to find a veteran edge guy to replace […]
Bills draft: T.J. Sanders on ‘exhilaration’ of making plays, Landon Jackson is a dog, and more
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – T.J. Sanders dumped football as a middle schooler because he just “wasn’t feeling it.”He was a junior when some buddies and coaches finally persuaded him to give it another crack. Oh, then he felt it. So did the opposing quarterback.“There’s just something about D-line,” Sanders wistfully said of his football rebirth. “I remember getting my first sack in high school, and I just felt alive, getting that first sack, and after that, I just wanted more and more sacks.”AdvertisementBut that attitude wouldn’t have been enough Friday night for the Buffalo Bills to trade up 15 slots and select Sanders, a defensive tackle from South Carolina. What likely made general manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott jump for Sanders at 41st overall was his desire for the often thankless work of stonewalling runners.“I actually enjoy getting […]
Ben Johnson’s influence defines Day 2 of the NFL Draft for the Bears
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — On Day 1 of the NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Bears improved their 12 personnel (two tight ends) for coach Ben Johnson’s offense by taking Colston Loveland. Friday, the team’s 11 personnel (three receivers) became more formidable with Luther Burden III.“With what we’re trying to build with Coach Johnson, it’s multiple, everybody moving around, so you can’t get a beat,” Bears director of college scouting Breck Ackley said. “It can open the offense up.”AdvertisementWelcome to the modern-day Bears, where quarterback EPA (expected points added) is valued more than defensive takeaways, and weapons are continuously sought and added for their offensive-minded head coach.Much like Loveland in the first round, Burden can be viewed as another Johnson pick. Johnson said during the NFL’s annual meeting that he was looking for a slot receiver, and now he has […]
Everyone is asking ‘What is Atlanta doing?’ again after Round 1 of the draft; Here’s the answer
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The idea that the Atlanta Falcons drafted James Pearce Jr. on Thursday night because of Michael Penix Jr. is going to take some explaining, so let’s get to it.The Falcons became the talk of the first day of the NFL Draft for the second year in a row Thursday when they traded back into the first round to draft Pearce, the edge rusher out of Tennessee, with the No. 26 pick, 11 spots after they had picked Georgia edge rusher Jalon Walker at No. 15.AdvertisementAtlanta sent the Los Angeles Rams the 46th and 242nd picks in this year’s draft and its first-round pick next year in exchange for the Pearce pick and the 101st pick in this year’s draft. On Friday, they traded the No. 101 pick and next year’s fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles […]
Raiders trade down (twice) and address needs on Day 2 of the draft
HENDERSON, Nev. — The number of holes the Las Vegas Raiders had remaining on their roster was talked about ad nauseam leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft. That was largely the case because they were shrewd in free agency — they still have over $42.2 million in cap space according to Over the Cap — which struck some as odd considering they were coming off a 4-13 season.AdvertisementWhile the Raiders’ brass defended that strategy, they had no illusions about the fact they needed to add a ton of help on both sides of the ball. Running back, receiver, linebacker and cornerback stood out as the biggest priorities, but they also hoped to add to the offensive line, defensive line and quarterback rooms, according to team sources.“We wanted to create as much competition as we can. That’s so important to […]
Yankees must act and get Devin Williams out of closer role
NEW YORK — It is not working. The next time the New York Yankees have a lead in a save situation, Devin Williams cannot walk out of the bullpen.The sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium loudly voiced its displeasure with Williams just two batters into his appearance Friday night, after George Springer led off the ninth inning with a single. A “We want (Luke) Weaver” chant echoed throughout the building.AdvertisementWilliams’ latest outing cost the Yankees a win in their series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees led 2-1 when Williams entered, and after he faced the minimum three batters, Yankees manager Aaron Boone had seen enough. Williams allowed a single, hit a batter and gave up a go-ahead two-run double to Alejandro Kirk. The Blue Jays added an insurance run after Mark Leiter Jr. gave up a single to […]
Related
Panthers double down at OLB. Is Jadeveon Clowney’s Carolina stint coming to an end?
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Friday night felt like a changing of the guard at edge rusher for the Carolina Panthers, with two coming in and one seemingly on his way out.Panthers general manager Dan Morgan traded up twice to take a pair of outside linebackers from the SEC — Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton and Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmielen, who will bring distinct pass rush styles when they arrive in Charlotte for next month’s rookie minicamp.Watching the second night of the draft unfold, you began to count the edge rushers on Carolina’s roster and wondered what had to give. It very well could be the former No. 1 overall pick and one of the most accomplished players on the roster.Jadeveon Clowney signed a two-year, $20 million contract in 2024 when the Panthers were scrambling to find a veteran edge guy to replace […]
Bills draft: T.J. Sanders on ‘exhilaration’ of making plays, Landon Jackson is a dog, and more
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – T.J. Sanders dumped football as a middle schooler because he just “wasn’t feeling it.”He was a junior when some buddies and coaches finally persuaded him to give it another crack. Oh, then he felt it. So did the opposing quarterback.“There’s just something about D-line,” Sanders wistfully said of his football rebirth. “I remember getting my first sack in high school, and I just felt alive, getting that first sack, and after that, I just wanted more and more sacks.”AdvertisementBut that attitude wouldn’t have been enough Friday night for the Buffalo Bills to trade up 15 slots and select Sanders, a defensive tackle from South Carolina. What likely made general manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott jump for Sanders at 41st overall was his desire for the often thankless work of stonewalling runners.“I actually enjoy getting […]
Ben Johnson’s influence defines Day 2 of the NFL Draft for the Bears
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — On Day 1 of the NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Bears improved their 12 personnel (two tight ends) for coach Ben Johnson’s offense by taking Colston Loveland. Friday, the team’s 11 personnel (three receivers) became more formidable with Luther Burden III.“With what we’re trying to build with Coach Johnson, it’s multiple, everybody moving around, so you can’t get a beat,” Bears director of college scouting Breck Ackley said. “It can open the offense up.”AdvertisementWelcome to the modern-day Bears, where quarterback EPA (expected points added) is valued more than defensive takeaways, and weapons are continuously sought and added for their offensive-minded head coach.Much like Loveland in the first round, Burden can be viewed as another Johnson pick. Johnson said during the NFL’s annual meeting that he was looking for a slot receiver, and now he has […]
Everyone is asking ‘What is Atlanta doing?’ again after Round 1 of the draft; Here’s the answer
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The idea that the Atlanta Falcons drafted James Pearce Jr. on Thursday night because of Michael Penix Jr. is going to take some explaining, so let’s get to it.The Falcons became the talk of the first day of the NFL Draft for the second year in a row Thursday when they traded back into the first round to draft Pearce, the edge rusher out of Tennessee, with the No. 26 pick, 11 spots after they had picked Georgia edge rusher Jalon Walker at No. 15.AdvertisementAtlanta sent the Los Angeles Rams the 46th and 242nd picks in this year’s draft and its first-round pick next year in exchange for the Pearce pick and the 101st pick in this year’s draft. On Friday, they traded the No. 101 pick and next year’s fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles […]
Raiders trade down (twice) and address needs on Day 2 of the draft
HENDERSON, Nev. — The number of holes the Las Vegas Raiders had remaining on their roster was talked about ad nauseam leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft. That was largely the case because they were shrewd in free agency — they still have over $42.2 million in cap space according to Over the Cap — which struck some as odd considering they were coming off a 4-13 season.AdvertisementWhile the Raiders’ brass defended that strategy, they had no illusions about the fact they needed to add a ton of help on both sides of the ball. Running back, receiver, linebacker and cornerback stood out as the biggest priorities, but they also hoped to add to the offensive line, defensive line and quarterback rooms, according to team sources.“We wanted to create as much competition as we can. That’s so important to […]
Yankees must act and get Devin Williams out of closer role
NEW YORK — It is not working. The next time the New York Yankees have a lead in a save situation, Devin Williams cannot walk out of the bullpen.The sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium loudly voiced its displeasure with Williams just two batters into his appearance Friday night, after George Springer led off the ninth inning with a single. A “We want (Luke) Weaver” chant echoed throughout the building.AdvertisementWilliams’ latest outing cost the Yankees a win in their series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees led 2-1 when Williams entered, and after he faced the minimum three batters, Yankees manager Aaron Boone had seen enough. Williams allowed a single, hit a batter and gave up a go-ahead two-run double to Alejandro Kirk. The Blue Jays added an insurance run after Mark Leiter Jr. gave up a single to […]
Be the first to leave a comment