Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior will miss next week’s El Clásico away to Barcelona after the Spanish Football Federation’s appeal committee rejected the club’s challenge against a four-match domestic suspension. The sanction stems from a straight red card issued during last weekend’s La Liga fixture against Villarreal.
The Villarreal Red Card and Post-Match Referee Report
During the match against Villarreal, Vinicius scored a goal that was subsequently ruled out by VAR following an incident involving Nathan Saliba. Video review showed the winger pulling Saliba back by his hair. To compound the situation, the match official detailed Vinicius’s furious on-field reaction in his official post-match report, triggering additional disciplinary action from the Spanish football authorities.
Disciplinary Breakdown and Timetable
The Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary body handed down a four-match domestic ban earlier in the week. The suspension allocates two matches for the hair-pull offense against Saliba and two additional matches for the player’s reaction to the sending off. The timing of the announcement drew sharp criticism from the club, arriving just hours before Real Madrid’s Champions League fixture against AS Roma while the team was traveling on the bus to the stadium.
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Jose Mourinho and Vinicius Junior React to the Sanction
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho voiced strong frustration over the timing and severity of the ruling. “Do you think it’s normal for a player who is going to play an important match for Spanish football to know two hours before that he is sanctioned with four games?” Mourinho said. “You don’t need to answer me. It’s not normal. Couldn’t they do it now or tomorrow morning? We found out on the bus and almost arrived at the stadium.”
Vinicius expressed bewilderment over the length of the ban. “I don’t remember any player ever getting a four-game suspension,” Vinicius said. “I tried to get past the player in front of me and ended up grabbing his hair. That’s it – a red card. That’s why I was so surprised, but I didn’t say a single bad word to the referee to deserve a four-game suspension.”
Impact on Upcoming Real Madrid Fixtures
According to reports, Real Madrid’s formal appeal to overturn or reduce the suspension was officially dismissed on Friday. As a result, the 26-year-old winger must sit out his side’s upcoming fixtures against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia.
Further Legal Steps Before the Administrative Sports Tribunal
Despite the rejection from the Spanish Football Federation’s appeal committee, Real Madrid officials indicated they intend to pursue a secondary appeal with the Administrative Sports Tribunal. Unless that subsequent legal challenge yields a different outcome before next weekend, the club will travel to Catalonia without one of their attacking options.
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