Vinicius Junior Receives Four-Match Ban That Rules Him Out of El Clásico
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has been handed a four-match suspension by the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee, ruling him out of the season’s first El Clásico against Barcelona, Agência Brasil reported. The sanction follows his red card during a 1-0 victory over Villarreal on Saturday, October 10, after a VAR review penalised the Brazilian for pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair.
According to the disciplinary report covering LaLiga’s eighth round of fixtures, the committee imposed a two-match ban for the violent conduct that triggered the dismissal. An additional two matches were added to the penalty due to Vinicius aggressively protesting the decision to the match referee.
How the Disciplinary Committee Ruled on the Villarreal Incident
Estadão reported that LaLiga’s disciplinary committee rejected the defense argument that the hair-pulling incident involving Saliba was accidental.
Terra noted that the player lost his temper and rushed toward the official to dispute the red card, behavior that doubled the severity of his punishment. Following the ruling handed down on Wednesday, October 14, Vinicius took to social media to apologize to his teammates and Real Madrid supporters.
Upcoming Fixtures Affected by the Suspension
The four-match ban sidelines Vinicius from domestic league fixtures against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander, and Valencia, according to Agência Brasil. Real Madrid is scheduled to travel to Camp Nou to face league leaders Barcelona in El Clásico on October 25, with both clubs currently separated by six points in the standings.
Estadão outlined the complete list of domestic matches missed by the forward, starting with Sevilla on Sunday, followed by the Barcelona clash on October 25, a trip to Racing Santander on November 1, and a home fixture against Valencia on November 7. His return to LaLiga action is not permitted until November 22, when Real Madrid hosts Celta de Vigo.
Managerial Backing and European Availability
Despite facing mounting criticism from club supporters over his recent performances, Vinicius retains the complete backing of manager José Mourinho, as reported by Terra. The Portuguese coach intends to utilize the forward in upcoming UEFA Champions League fixtures.
Because the suspension applies strictly to domestic competition, Vinicius remains available for Real Madrid’s European commitments. Estadão confirmed his eligibility for matches against Roma, RB Leipzig on October 21, and AEK Athens on November 4, ensuring the player stays active during his domestic layoff.
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