Vinicius red card: Real Madrid star may miss El Clasico clash

Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior started on the bench for the first time this season, came on after the break and scored, but VAR disallowed the goal and the player was sent off. The video replay showed that in the previous incident the 26-year-old Brazilian had sharply yanked the hair of Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba.

The disallowed goal and the red card

It had all begun well: Real Madrid first went ahead through Yan Diomande, then Vinicius added a second. But VAR stepped in: referee Isidro Diaz de Mera reviewed the incident on the monitor, disallowed the goal and showed a red card. Vinicius was so furious that he ran at the referee. Had Antonio Rudiger not held him back, it could have come to blows.

Reactions to the decision

Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said after the match: “I don’t know what is happening with the referees, I don’t understand the red card.” Former Spanish referee Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, on the Radio Marca airwaves, called the decision correct: “It’s a clear case of pulling Saliba’s hair.”

Vinicius himself later wrote on Instagram that he regrets being sent off, which put the team in an awkward position. “The joy goes on… I apologize to the team and the fans,” the Brazilian added. Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho did not attend the press conference, while the club channel Real Madrid TV criticized the inconsistent use of VAR.

What Vinicius faces

The Brazilian is under the threat of additional punishment. If the disciplinary committee imposes a harsher sanction, Vinicius could miss the prestigious El Clasico against Barcelona on October 25 at Camp Nou.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz