Mbappe Gets Mixed Reception from Fans in Last PSG Home Game Before Scoring in 3-1 Loss 

PSG's Kylian Mbappe, center, celebrates with his teammates PSG's French League One title after the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (AP)
PSG's Kylian Mbappe, center, celebrates with his teammates PSG's French League One title after the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (AP)
TT

Mbappe Gets Mixed Reception from Fans in Last PSG Home Game Before Scoring in 3-1 Loss 

PSG's Kylian Mbappe, center, celebrates with his teammates PSG's French League One title after the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (AP)
PSG's Kylian Mbappe, center, celebrates with his teammates PSG's French League One title after the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (AP)

Kylian Mbappe got a mixed reception from Paris Saint-Germain fans in his last home game for the club before scoring in a 3-1 home defeat against Toulouse in the French league on Sunday.

Mbappe grabbed his league-leading 27th goal of the season in the eighth minute after sprinting clear and rounding the goalkeeper.

But defensive errors followed as French champion PSG slipped to only its second league defeat of the season, but third straight overall after back-to-back 1-0 losses against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semifinals.

As the lineups were announced at Parc des Princes, there were loud jeers from sections of the crowd when Mbappe's name was read out. But shortly after, ultra supporters from the CUP — Paris Ultras Collective — unfurled a banner in his honor behind one of the goals.

It read “Enfant de la Banlieu” (Kid from the Suburbs) in reference to the Parisian suburb of Bondy where Mbappe grew up. They also made a giant tifo in his image, featuring Mbappe in a trademark pose with his arms crossed. Mbappe went over to the fans and applauded.

After the final whistle, fans sang “On est les Champions” (We are the Champions) but did not chant Mbappe's name.

Mbappe publicly confirmed on Friday that he is leaving at the end of the season, having already informed the club in mid-February. He spoke Friday in a video posted on X and not through the club’s communications department.

Although he has yet to announce his destination, Mbappe is widely expected to join 14-time Champions League winner Real Madrid.

Mbappe's early goal was quickly canceled out by Dutch striker Thijs Dallinga following slack defending.

Midway through the second period, PSG’s defenders backed off and forward Yann Gboho curled a fine shot into the top right corner. With seconds remaining in stoppage time, striker Frank Magri volleyed in from close range.

“Even though we are champions, we shouldn’t lose in this manner,” PSG winger Ousmane Dembele said. “We have to give the best versions of ourselves in every game.”

Mbappe has three matches remaining — two league games and the French Cup final against Lyon on May 25 — to add to his club-record tally of 256 goals.

Also on Sunday, Monaco clinched second place with a 2-0 win at Montpellier.

Defender Kassoum Ouatara and France midfielder Youssouf Fofana grabbed the goals for Monaco, which is six points clear of both third-place Lille and fourth-place Brest.

The top three qualify directly for the Champions League and the fourth-place side enters the qualifying rounds.

Canada striker Jonathan David reached 19 league goals as Lille won 2-1 at Nantes, and veteran forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted twice to move onto 16 goals as Marseille won 3-1 at home to Lorient.

Rock-bottom Clermont was relegated after losing 1-0 at home to Lyon. Also, Metz lost 2-1 at Strasbourg, and Rennes drew 1-1 with Lens.



US Open Doubles Champion Max Purcell Suspended for Anti-doping Breach

FILE - Max Purcell returns a shot to Tommy Paul, of the United States, during a second round match of the US Open tennis championships, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
FILE - Max Purcell returns a shot to Tommy Paul, of the United States, during a second round match of the US Open tennis championships, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
TT

US Open Doubles Champion Max Purcell Suspended for Anti-doping Breach

FILE - Max Purcell returns a shot to Tommy Paul, of the United States, during a second round match of the US Open tennis championships, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
FILE - Max Purcell returns a shot to Tommy Paul, of the United States, during a second round match of the US Open tennis championships, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Two-time Grand Slam winning doubles player Max Purcell has entered a voluntary provisional suspension under tennis’ anti-doping rules.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced the sanction in a statement on Monday after the 26-year-old Australian admitted to violating Article 2.2 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program “relating to the use of a Prohibited Method”.
Purcell posted a statement on Instagram saying he had “unknowingly received an IV infusion of vitamins above the allowable limit of 100 ml.”
Purcell said he had told the medical clinic that the infusion needed to be below 100 ml because he was a professional athlete, but that the medical records he received back showed that the IV had been above that level, The Associated Press said.
“This news was devastating to me because I pride myself on being an athlete who always makes sure that everything is WADA safe,” Purcell wrote. “I volunteered this information to the ITIA and have been as transparent as possible in trying to put this whole situation behind me.”
The ITIA said the suspension came into effect on 12 Dec., and time served under provisional suspension will be credited against any future sanction. The length of time of the voluntary suspension was not specified by the ITIA.
“During the provisional suspension, Purcell is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorized or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association," the ITIA statement read.
Purcell, with compatriot Jordan Thompson, won the U.S. Open in September and won Wimbledon with another Australian, Matthew Ebden, in 2022. He is currently ranked No. 12 in doubles.
He also finished as a runner-up in the Australian Open doubles final twice, in 2020 and 2022.
Purcell, ranked No. 105 in singles, was not listed on the Australian Open entry lists released earlier this month and did not receive a wildcard or feature on the qualifying entries.
The ITIA did not say whether Purcell's absence from the draw of the tournament starting Jan. 12. was due to the sanction.
The latest doping violation in tennis comes just weeks after five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.
Top-ranked men's player Jannik Sinner, winner of two Grand Slams this year, was exonerated by the ITIA after twice testing positive for a trace amount of an anabolic steroid in March with the World Anti-Doping Agency appealing the ruling.