Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe will be eligible to play in the upcoming Copa del Rey final against arch-rivals Barcelona later this month.
This comes after the disciplinary commission handed him a one-match suspension following his recent red card incident.
The French national team captain received a straight red card during Madrid’s narrow 1-0 La Liga victory over Alaves on Sunday. The dismissal came after a reckless challenge on Alaves midfielder Antonio Blanco.
According to the referee’s official match report, Mbappe was sent off for “violent conduct,” an offense that typically warrants a suspension ranging from one to three games under La Liga regulations.
Had the more severe three-match ban been enforced, the 25-year-old striker would have been ruled out of the high-stakes Copa del Rey final, scheduled for 26 April against Barcelona—Madrid’s fierce El Clasico rivals.
However, the disciplinary panel opted for the lightest possible sanction. The decision was reportedly influenced by the referee’s assessment that Mbappe was actively “disputing the ball” during the incident, which may have helped mitigate the severity of the punishment.
“Mbappe: one-match suspension for a violent incident occurring during the game or as a direct consequence of a game-related incident, with additional fines in accordance with Article 52 of the Civil Code,” the Spanish Football Federation said in a statement.
As a result, Mbappe will now only sit out Real Madrid’s upcoming La Liga fixture, a home clash against Athletic Club Bilbao on Sunday, 20 April.
Real Madrid currently sit second in the Spanish top flight, trailing leaders Barcelona by four points as the title race intensifies.
So far this season, Mbappe has been in sensational form, netting 33 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions since his high-profile move to the Spanish capital.
Looking ahead, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad faces a tough challenge in European competition as they prepare to host Arsenal in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. Madrid will be looking to overcome a 3-0 first-leg deficit when the two sides meet at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday night.
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