UEFA bans Ethan Mbappé for three matches over elbow on Natan
The Lille forward misses Arsenal, Galatasaray and Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League unless an appeal works, after his red card against Betis on 8 September.
UEFA has banned Ethan Mbappé for three matches for elbowing Betis defender Natan in Lille's Champions League game on 8 September.
The 19-year-old forward, the younger brother of Real Madrid's Kylian, was sent off for the incident in the 56th minute at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Betis won the first league-phase fixture 3-2. Troy Parrott, the 24-year-old Ireland forward, had just scored the 2-3. Natan was coming back from the celebration and went to say something to Mbappé from behind in the centre circle. Mbappé answered with an elbow to the face.
Bulgarian referee Georgi Kabakov had not seen it. The VAR called him over and he showed a straight red.
Unless an appeal succeeds, Mbappé will miss the away game at Arsenal on 13 October, the home game against Galatasaray on 21 October and the trip to Bodo/Glimt on 3 November. The Betis match was only his third appearance in the Champions League.
If the ban stands, Lille will play all three fixtures without a forward who has barely started in this competition. That may test the depth of their attack at Arsenal in particular.
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Sources 1
- La UEFA impone una dura sanción a Ethan Mbappé por su codazo a Natan mundodeportivo.com