Barcelona vice-president Rafael Yuste believes Kylian Mbappe should have received more than a one-game ban for his horror tackle at Alaves on Sunday, and says not one member of Hansi Flick’s side would have made that challenge because they are “clean players”.
Mbappe was sent-off seven minutes before half-time after a studs-up challenge on Alaves midfielder Antonio Blanco in a game Madrid went on to win 1-0.
The red card was filed as ‘violent conduct’, meaning the France captain was facing a sanction of between one and three games and the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary commission opted for the most lenient punishment.
🎙️ Rafa Yuste on Mbappé’s controversial one-match ban.
🗣️: “The tackle and the sanction are absolutely absurd. It was shocking and could have injured the opponent. It’s a disgrace.” pic.twitter.com/FhY2GQ6Cbe
— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) April 16, 2025
Sanction is absurd – Yuste
That has angered Barcelona, who sit four points clear of their arch-rivals at the top of La Liga.
Yuste told RAC-1: “I would say that, from the outset, it is absolutely absurd.
“A very hard challenge that could have caused a broken leg. It’s disproportionate and a disgrace.
“If that happens with one of our players, which is not going to happen because ours are clean players, I don’t know what would have happened.
“It’s unfair and reaffirms that we have to do it [win the league] ourselves so as not to depend on anyone. It’s a bad example for soccer. It’s a shame.”
Semis. Booked. pic.twitter.com/rfeOb5wKJR
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 16, 2025
Flick will demand better after Dortmund display
Yuste was speaking shortly after Barca qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League, although their achievement was tarnished somewhat by a poor second-leg performance in losing 3-1 at Borussia Dortmund.
The Blaugrana went through 5-3 on aggregate but Yuste believes Flick and sporting director Deco would not be happy with elements of Barca’s play at Signal Iduna Park.
He added: “This is a winning team. Hansi, his staff, Deco are winners and are hungry for titles.
“We achieved the goal of reaching the semi-finals, but they are people who seek excellence. And I think that critical spirit is key.
“This team wants to win titles and you can only improve if you are hungry and get angry when you lose.”
