France captain Kylian Mbappe was forced off with a facial injury in the latter stages of his side’s Euro 2024 group stage victory against Austria.
The captain was then shown a yellow card for re-entering the pitch after receiving treatment without the permission of referee Jesus Gil Manzano.
Mbappe sustained the injury in the 86th minute after colliding with the shoulder of Austria defender Kevin Danso as he contested an aerial ball.
The 25-year-old was seen bleeding heavily from his nose as he was attended to by medical staff on the pitch. His France shirt was also stained with blood following the injury.
Mbappe left the field of play to receive further treatment. However, he then returned to the pitch while still bleeding and without changing into a clean shirt and immediately sat down in the Austria half of the pitch.
He was booked by Gil Manzano before being replaced by Olivier Giroud.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) Laws of the Game state the referee must ensure “that any player bleeding leaves the field of play. The player may only re-enter on receiving a signal from the referee, who must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped and there is no blood on the equipment.
“If the referee has authorised the doctors and/or stretcher bearers to enter the field of play, the player must leave on a stretcher or on foot. A player who
does not comply must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.”
If Mbappe is booked again between now and the end of the quarter-finals he will be suspended for the next game. Yellow cards are wiped at the conclusion of the quarter-finals.
France beat Austria 1-0 at the Dusseldorf Arena after Maximilian Wober’s first-half own goal.
(Michael Regan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
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