Nuno Mendes suspended for three matches after Paris Saint-Germain red card

Paris Saint-Germain will be without Nuno Mendes for their first three Ligue 1 matches of the season after the French league’s disciplinary committee suspended the Portugal international for his red card against Lens in the French Super Cup.

Mendes was dismissed in the closing stages of Paris Saint-Germain’s defeat by Lens after catching Michal Skoras with his elbow. Referee Jeremy Pignard showed the left-back a straight red card following the incident.

The disciplinary committee announced its decision on Wednesday, ruling that Mendes must serve a three-match suspension. He will therefore miss Paris Saint-Germain’s opening league fixtures against Rennes, Lille and Monaco.

The punishment represents an early setback for Luis Enrique’s side, who lost the French Super Cup to Lens after winning the European Super Cup against Aston Villa only a few days earlier.

According to RMC, Paris Saint-Germain had expressed dissatisfaction with Pignard’s report on the incident and believed the referee’s description had been excessively severe.

Pignard reportedly classified Mendes’ challenge as “a violent blow off the ball”. That wording surprised the Parisian club, which argued that play had already restarted when the incident occurred.

Paris Saint-Germain also maintained that Mendes had been attempting to run in behind the Lens defence when he was impeded by Skoras. However, the club’s arguments did not persuade the disciplinary committee to reduce or withdraw the three-match suspension.

Mendes had entered the game shortly before the hour mark, with Paris Saint-Germain trailing 1-0. The Portuguese defender was brought on in an attempt to influence the match but was unable to change its course before being sent off late on.

His absence is expected to lead to a return to the starting line-up for France international Lucas Digne. Paris Saint-Germain signed Digne during the summer transfer window to provide direct cover for Mendes at left-back.

Digne had started the recent match against Lens before Mendes was introduced in the second half. With Mendes now suspended, Digne is expected to take his place in the starting side for the club’s next three league matches.

The suspension will deprive Luis Enrique of one of Paris Saint-Germain’s principal options on the left at the very start of the domestic campaign. Mendes’ red card has also left the club facing the consequences of an incident that it believes was misrepresented in the referee’s report.

The decision means Mendes will be unavailable for the meetings with Rennes, Lille and Monaco in succession, before he becomes eligible to return once the three-match ban has been completed.

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