Barça vs Real: tension around Kylian Mbappé 11 days before the Copa final

The looming shadow of El Clásico, the Copa del Rey final between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid scheduled for April 26th, has been cast into sharper relief by a controversy swirling around the availability of Real Madrid’s star forward, Kylian Mbappé. Just eleven days shy of this highly anticipated showdown, the Spanish Football Federation delivered a verdict on Mbappé that has ignited a firestorm of debate and heightened the already intense rivalry between the two Spanish giants. The focus of this tension stems from a red card Mbappé received during Real Madrid’s recent La Liga encounter against Alavés last Sunday, an incident that threatened to sideline him for the crucial Copa del Rey final.

The footballing world held its breath this week as the Spanish Football Federation deliberated on the appropriate sanction for Kylian Mbappé following his dismissal against Alavés. The nature of the red card, a forceful challenge that was deemed dangerous, had raised the specter of a potentially lengthy suspension, one that could have ruled the prolific French striker out of the Copa del Rey final against their arch-rivals, FC Barcelona. The prospect of Mbappé, a player of his caliber and influence, being absent from such a significant fixture was a matter of considerable concern for Real Madrid and a source of potential relief for Barcelona.

However, the verdict delivered by the disciplinary committee of the Spanish Federation on Tuesday has sent shockwaves, particularly through Catalonia. In a decision that has been met with considerable consternation on the Barcelona side of the divide, Kylian Mbappé has been handed the minimum possible suspension for his red card offense: a solitary one-match ban. This outcome, while undoubtedly welcomed with open arms by Carlo Ancelotti and the Real Madrid camp, has been met with disbelief and anger by FC Barcelona and their supporters, where the case is already generating a significant amount of heated discussion and debate.

The controversy surrounding Mbappé’s suspension, or rather the lack thereof for the Copa del Rey final, is rapidly escalating in Spain. The incident that led to the red card involved Mbappé planting his studs on the shin of Alavés player Antonio Blanco, a challenge that many observers felt warranted a more severe punishment based on the Spanish Federation’s disciplinary regulations, which allow for suspensions of up to three matches for such offenses.

However, the disciplinary committee opted for leniency in their assessment of the incident. This apparent leniency is reportedly based on the referee’s report from the match, penned by Soto Grado, who apparently deemed Mbappé’s action not as an “aggression” but rather as an excessive intervention in a dispute for the ball. This interpretation, while perhaps offering a technical justification for the minimal sanction, has done little to quell the outrage in Catalonia.

Adding his expert opinion to the matter, former referee Eduardo Iturralde, in an interview with RMC Sport, suggested that this verdict was somewhat predictable within the context of Spanish football’s disciplinary norms. Iturralde explained that the committee often tends to reduce sanctions in such types of cases, arguing that while Mbappé’s challenge appeared spectacular and forceful, it did not meet the specific criteria for an “aggression” as defined by their code. Interestingly, Alavés player Manu Sánchez, who was also sent off during the same match for a robust tackle on Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, received an identical one-match suspension.

The decision regarding Mbappé’s availability for the Copa del Rey final has ignited a firestorm of criticism and indignation within Catalan football circles. The prominent pro-Catalan daily newspaper, Mundo Deportivo, wasted no time in labeling the verdict a “scandal,” reflecting the widespread sentiment among FC Barcelona supporters. For the passionate followers of the Blaugrana, this minimal suspension is perceived as a blatant maneuver to unfairly favor Real Madrid in the crucial upcoming fixtures, most notably the Copa del Rey final where the two fierce rivals are set to clash.

The sense of injustice is palpable among Barcelona fans, who view the decision as yet another instance of what they perceive as preferential treatment towards Real Madrid by the Spanish footballing authorities. This sentiment is perhaps best encapsulated by the fiery criticism leveled by the Catalan commentator Jota Jordi, a well-known and often outspoken figure on the popular Iberian football talk show El Chiringuito TV.

Jota Jordi, in a passionate outburst on social media, did not hold back in his condemnation of the decision. He pointedly remarked, “Never forget that we are competing against an army of Real Madrid. The media, the institutions, and those who decide everything. Lewandowski receives a 3-match suspension for touching his nose. Mbappé, who almost ruined a player’s career with his criminal tackle, gets 1 match.” This scathing comparison between a previous suspension handed to Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski for a seemingly innocuous gesture and the minimal punishment for Mbappé’s forceful challenge has resonated deeply with Barcelona supporters, further fueling their sense of outrage and perceived injustice.

Meanwhile, across the Spanish footballing landscape in Madrid, the reaction to the disciplinary committee’s verdict has been one of collective relief. This crucial sanction, or rather the lack of a more severe one, arrives at a pivotal juncture in the season for Real Madrid, where every match carries significant weight in their ongoing battle for the La Liga title and their aspirations in the remaining cup competitions.

Kylian Mbappé will now serve his one-match suspension during Real Madrid’s upcoming La Liga fixture against Athletic Bilbao on April 20th. Crucially, this timing ensures that he will be eligible to return to the pitch for Real Madrid’s subsequent league match against Getafe on April 23rd, providing him with valuable playing time to regain match sharpness and rhythm in the lead-up to the highly anticipated Copa del Rey final against Barcelona just three days later on April 26th.

It is worth noting that Kylian Mbappé himself, seemingly aware of the potential severity and impact of his challenge against Antonio Blanco, was quick to offer a sincere apology to the Alavés player and his teammates in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Mbappé, generally regarded as a player with a relatively fair-play record and not prone to violent conduct, undoubtedly benefited from his prompt mea culpa when the disciplinary committee deliberated on his case.

For Carlo Ancelotti and the entire Real Madrid team, the relief at having their star French forward available for the Copa del Rey final is palpable. Mbappé’s electrifying pace, exceptional dribbling ability, and clinical finishing make him a constant threat to any defense, and his presence in the final against their fiercest rivals is a significant boost to Real Madrid’s chances of lifting the coveted trophy.

The tension surrounding the Copa del Rey final, already at an elevated level due to the historic rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid, has now been further intensified by the controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappé’s availability. The minimal suspension has undoubtedly added another layer of intrigue and animosity to what promises to be a fiercely contested and emotionally charged El Clásico showdown. The footballing world now eagerly awaits April 26th to witness the latest chapter in this enduring rivalry, with the shadow of this disciplinary decision undoubtedly adding extra spice to the occasion.