Total outrage: Mbappé receives only a one-match ban after his criminal tackle in the Alavés-Madrid, impunity?

The Discipline Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation has made one of its most regrettable decisions of the season, and perhaps one of its most regrettable in recent history. The sanction that Kylian Mbappé will receive after his red card last Sunday in the local tournament, in the match between Real Madrid and Deportivo Alavés (0-1), has already been made public.

In that match, the French forward was sent off with a direct red card in the 38th minute after a tackle that, without exaggerating, could be described as 'criminal.' Mbappé completely gave up on contesting the ball and ended up hitting Antonio Blanco's leg with his right foot — and the studs first — at a mid-height. A chilling action from any angle.

🟥 Mbappé's red card. #LALIGAEASPORTS #LaCasaDelFútbol pic.twitter.com/FXYeU8G9Jp

— Fútbol en Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarFutbol) April 13, 2025

Even Davide Ancelotti, assistant coach of Real Madrid and spokesperson after the match, openly admitted in the press conference that it was a direct red card tackle. And yet, the main referee, César Soto Grado, did not see it initially and only decided to sanction it after consulting with the VAR.

The match report softens an action that could have been exemplary

The most worrying part was not the delayed reaction of the referee, but how he wrote the match report afterwards. It reads:

"In the 38th minute of the match, the player Kylian Mbappé Lottin was sent off for the following reason: For entering with his foot in a stamping motion at the shin height of an opponent, during the ball dispute, using excessive force."

That last part — "during the ball dispute" — is key, as it softens the interpretation of the action. This wording has been decisive in applying the minimum degree of the Article 130 of the regulations, which governs "Violence in the game":

"To occur violently during the game or as a direct consequence of some incident in it, as long as the action poses a risk, but does not cause harmful or injurious consequences, it will be sanctioned with a suspension of one to three matches or for a period of up to one month."

Only one match suspension: the precedent that outrages

And here comes the infuriating twist: Kylian Mbappé has only been sanctioned with one match. This means he will miss only the match of round 32 of LaLiga EA Sports against Athletic Club on Sunday, April 20.

This decision is not only inexplicable given the severity of the tackle, but it also sets a dangerously bad precedent in how violent actions are interpreted in LaLiga. The inevitable question arises: Is everyone judged by the same standards?

The answer is unclear. What is evident is that Real Madrid will be able to count on Mbappé in the Copa del Rey final against FC Barcelona. A decision that inevitably raises suspicions and adds to the history of controversies where the white club always seems to benefit.