Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe was chopped down by Saint-Etienne captain Loic Perrin in the first half of Friday’s Coupe de France final, sparking a massive brawl and raising doubts about the World Cup winner’s availability in the upcoming Champions League quarterfinals.
Perrin was initially yellow-carded for the crunching challenge but was later dismissed upon video review.
Mbappe appeared to injure his right ankle and had to be substituted. He returned to the sidelines on crutches and with his ankle wrapped up.
The Frenchman was playing in his first competitive fixture since March. The Ligue 1 season was abandoned due to the coronavirus pandemic, leaving Mbappe and his teammates without much action in recent months.
PSG face Olympique Lyonnais in the Coupe de la Ligue final July 31, but all eyes are on next month’s clash with Atalanta in the new-look Champions League. PSG will meet the Serie A darlings Aug. 8 in a one-off quarterfinal in Lisbon.