Another PSG absence confirmed ahead of Champions League clash with Girona

While already dealing with four absences, PSG will also be missing a player against Girona due to a suspension, stemming from a red card received 9 months ago in the Youth League.

The suspensions for PSG vs Girona will ultimately affect both the pitch and the stands. Following some misconduct observed by UEFA towards the end of last season during the semi-final against Dortmund, the Virage Auteuil stand will be closed this Wednesday evening for the first match of the season. The atmosphere will undoubtedly be affected, but the European governing body takes its regulations seriously, and PSG will experience this in another way.

It was already known that Paris would be without four players due to injuries, but there is also a suspended player for this PSG vs Girona match, and it is entirely unexpected. Luis Enrique even mentioned him as a possibility in the press conference today, but young forward Ibrahim Mbaye cannot play this Wednesday evening, nor will he be able to play the same fixture in the Youth League in the afternoon.

Another PSG absence confirmed ahead of Champions League clash with Girona

The reason is straightforward and dates back to a red card in... December 2023! During the 6th matchday of the 2023/2024 Youth League group stage, the young Parisians travelled to Dortmund, and the then 15-year-old attacker had wiped his studs on an opponent’s ankle in the 41st minute. A red card was shown, PSG lost 2-0, and were eliminated from the competition, finishing bottom of their group.

However, since Paris was eliminated after that match, Mbaye’s suspension was never served, and the Youth League regulations are very clear on this point: "Suspensions from a red card not served during the current competition are carried over to the next club competition for which the player is eligible." Ibrahim Mbaye is eligible for the Champions League this season, being included in PSG's A list, so he will start the competition from the stands.