Historic robbery: Mbappé and Tchouameni adulterate the Cup final

Published:26/04/2025 - 23:57h

Updated:27/04/2025 - 01:27h

Scandal in the Copa del Rey final: Mbappé played after a minimal sanction and Tchouameni was spared expulsion. Total outrage in Barcelona.

The Copa del Rey final was marked by a new arbitration scandal. Kylian Mbappé, who should not have played after a minimal sanction after his brutal tackle against Alavés, and Aurélien Tchouameni, spared from expulsion during the match, adulterated a final that will be remembered for the white impunity.

Mbappé played despite his ridiculous sanction

The controversy began before the initial whistle. Kylian Mbappé received only a one-match sanction for his criminal tackle in the local tournament, in the match between Real Madrid and Deportivo Alavés. A disciplinary failure that was considered a scandal in Spanish football. Thanks to that minimal sanction, the Frenchman was available to play in the final at La Cartuja.

Read here the controversy about Mbappé's sanction.

Tchouameni, another expulsion forgiven

During the course of the match, the arbitration scandal continued. Aurélien Tchouameni made a very dangerous tackle on Dani Olmo, twisting his ankle with a brutal scissor. However, De Burgos Bengoetxea limited himself to showing him a yellow card, and the VAR, with González Fuertes, chose not to intervene.

An action that, according to regulations and general criteria, should have meant the immediate expulsion of the Real Madrid player, who however continued on the field and conditioned the outcome of the final.

Read here all the arbitration controversy of the final.

Actions that adulterated the final

Mbappé: Minimal sanction after direct red card, played the final.
Tchouameni: Criminal tackle forgiven with a yellow card.
VAR: Absolute inaction in decisive plays.

Outrage in Barcelona

The FC Barcelona fans, and a large part of the neutral football environment, were quick to denounce what happened. The feeling of adulteration of the competition was widespread, with a growing outrage that was transferred to social networks, forums and media.

The Azulgrana fans point to a repeated permissiveness towards Real Madrid in important arbitration decisions, in a new episode that fuels distrust about transparency and fair play in Spanish football.

What consequences can it have?

For now, no additional sanctions or revisions of what happened in the final are expected. However, media pressure and social outrage could lead to formal requests for explanations to both the RFEF and the Technical Committee of Referees in the coming hours.