43 seconds of nightmare! World Cup winner makes disastrous Le Mans debut and sets Ligue 1 record. VIDEO
Djibril Sidibé could hardly have imagined a more brutal start to life at Le Mans.
Details: The 2018 World Cup winner made his Le Mans debut against Rennes in Ligue 1 on 30 August, but his milestone appearance lasted just 43 seconds. The 34-year-old defender came on as a substitute and almost immediately flew into a late studs-up challenge on Rennes forward Estéban Lepaul. The referee showed Sidibé a straight red card, leaving the experienced Frenchman visibly stunned by how quickly his debut had fallen apart.
The dismissal also entered the Ligue 1 record books. Sidibé's 43-second cameo became the fastest sending-off for a substitute in the French top flight since detailed records began in the 2006/07 season, beating the previous mark of 47 seconds.
The video captures both the reckless challenge and Sidibé's reaction after seeing red, turning what should have been a memorable first appearance for his new club into one of the most unfortunate debuts of the season. Le Mans eventually lost the match 3-2 to Rennes.
It is worth noting that Sidibé was part of France's squad that won the 2018 World Cup and also lifted the Ligue 1 title with Monaco in the 2016/17 season.
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Steven Perez
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