Ethan Mbappé Receives Three-Match Champions League Ban for Elbow Foul
Ethan Mbappé will miss Lille's next three Champions League matches after being suspended for an elbow incident. He was sent off early in the second half of the game against Betis Sevilla on September 8, during the first matchday of the Champions League. Lille lost that game 3-2.
The suspension means Mbappé will be unavailable for Lille's upcoming games against Arsenal (October 13), Galatasaray (October 21), and Bodo/Glimt (November 3). He will be eligible to return on November 25 for the match against Bayern Munich, marking the fifth matchday of the group stage.
Mbappé Apologizes for 'Unacceptable Gesture'
The foul occurred in the 56th minute against Betis Sevilla. Mbappé elbowed Brazilian defender Natan, a foul identified by VAR. This incident marred a match where Mbappé had earlier provided an assist for Ayase Ueda's opening goal. Lille, already trailing 3-2 at the time of Mbappé's expulsion, could not recover playing with ten men.
"I want to apologize to my teammates, staff, and supporters for this unacceptable gesture," Ethan Mbappé stated in a social media post. "The defeat is entirely my fault, and I take responsibility. I left my teammates in a difficult position in the most important competition."
Fresh materials — Football News
"Se battre pour ce titre": Filipe Luis affiche les ambitions de Monaco en Ligue Conférence
AS Monaco, currently leading Ligue 1 after five games, aims to make a significant impact in the Conference League this season. Filipe Luis, the team's coach, expressed his aspirations for the competition in a recent interview with RMC's After Foot. Monaco has had an impressiv
Djorkaeff on Zidane's France Coaching: "I'll be even tougher on him"
At the testimonial match for Robert Pirès in Metz on Tuesday evening, Youri Djorkaeff, Vincent Candela, and Christian Karembeu commented on Zinedine Zidane's first steps as the head coach of the French national team. Djorkaeff, smiling, indicated he would adopt a stricter approach with Zi
Pio Esposito: 'I Don't Forget My Serie B Roots'
Pio Esposito continues to find the net for both Italy and Inter. The 21-year-old striker remains grounded, stating, "I don't forget that two years ago I was playing in Serie B." Since his debut in September 2025, Esposito has scored seven goals in 13 senior appearances for the Italian nat
"Si l'arbitrage perd son indépendance, on n'a plus le même football": Benoît Bastien rappelle l'importance de ne pas céder aux pressions de dirigeants comme Olivier Létang
Benoît Bastien, deputy technical director of refereeing at the French Football Federation (FFF), stressed the importance of referees remaining independent and not bowing to pressure from club presidents. He addressed comments made by Olivier Létang, president of Lille, who had critici
Cristiano Ronaldo's Explosive Statement: Betrayal by Coach, Apologies, and Future with Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence with a lengthy statement addressing his departure from the Portugal national team during a training camp. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner detailed the events, criticizing coach Jorge Jesus and asserting his intention to continue his international c
Zidane as France Manager? Leboeuf: "We're living a fantasy"
Frank Leboeuf, attending Robert Pirès' jubilee match in Metz on Tuesday evening, shared his thoughts on Zinedine Zidane's early performances as the manager of the French national team. French National Team: Zidane as Manager? "We are living a fantasy," savors Leboeuf When asked about