Vinicius Junior Sees Red and Apologizes After VAR Disallows Goal Against Villarreal
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior issued a public apology via social media following his red card for pulling the hair of Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba during a La Liga match. The 26-year-old Brazilian international wrote on Instagram, Apologies to my team and my fans,
omitting any direct mention of his opponent. The incident occurred on Saturday evening at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, where Real Madrid secured a 1-0 victory to maintain pressure at the top of the table. Vinicius had initially reacted with furious protests directed at referee Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos before Antonio Rüdiger stepped in to calm the situation. In his official match report, referee Díaz de Mera recorded both the aggressive behavior and the loud protests from the player.
Yan Diomande Delivers the Decisive Goal on a Sparse Night at the Bernabéu
Before the late disciplinary drama, the match turned on a lone strike from 19-year-old newcomer Yan Diomande in the 62nd minute. Transferred from RB Leipzig during the summer for a reported 125 million euros, the Ivorer netted his first competitive goal for the club by beating his former Leipzig teammate, goalkeeper Peter Gulácsi. The assistant referee initially flagged the play for offside, but VAR reviews confirmed Diomande remained onside when he received a pass from Federico Valverde. The breakthrough offered relief to a home crowd that had spent much of the first half watching a sluggish performance from manager José Mourinho’s side, with supporters even whistling their team at halftime. Villarreal, which had suffered a 3-2 defeat against Borussia Dortmund in its Champions League opener, enjoyed a high share of possession throughout the contest but failed to pose any danger before the break against a largely unengaged Peter Gulácsi. Earlier in the match, Kylian Mbappé recorded Real Madrid’s sole real opportunity of the first half with a shot that brushed the outside of the post, while Arda Güler provided occasional entertainment through dribbles and tricks without ever establishing a direct threat.
Video Assistant Referee Intervenes to Rescind the Second Goal and Issue a Dismissal
The turning point of the second half arrived in the 71st minute when Vinicius Junior, introduced as a substitute in the 52nd minute, slotted home a pass from Jude Bellingham to spark wild celebrations on the pitch. Even manager José Mourinho sprinted onto the turf to join the celebratory huddle. However, referee Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos was summoned to the sideline monitor by the VAR team. Replays showed that during an earlier sprint up the pitch, Vinicius had pulled Saliba’s hair. The referee promptly disallowed the goal and issued a straight red card for aggressive behavior, leaving Real Madrid to defend their narrow lead with ten men.
José Mourinho Bypasses the Post-Match Press Conference Amid Discipline Concerns
Following the final whistle, Real Madrid manager José Mourinho refused to attend the mandatory post-match press conference, a silence mirrored by his players. According to sports reports, the Portuguese coach chose to avoid speaking publicly to prevent potential criticism of officiating crews that might trigger a touchline ban. The club’s ongoing tension with refereeing decisions follows similar complaints raised by Mourinho after the Madrid derby against Atlético, where he brought printed photographs to his media briefing to protest disciplinary calls.
Standings Implications and the Looming Clásico Context
With the 1-0 victory secured despite the numerical disadvantage, Real Madrid holds firm in the standings with 24 points, trailing league leaders Barcelona by six points after Hansi Flick’s side defeated Getafe 3-0. Vinicius Junior now faces a potential suspension of up to three matches under La Liga statutes governing violent conduct, which threatens to sideline the forward for the upcoming Clásico against Barcelona on October 25. Real Madrid’s next fixture precedes that marquee clash, while domestic and continental schedules continue to test the squad’s depth under Mourinho.
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