Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. is officially out for four games, including the massive El Clasico clash against FC Barcelona on October 25. That’s right, the Brazilian winger got slapped with a four-match ban after a chaotic incident in Real Madrid’s last home game at the Bernabeu against Villarreal.
The Wild Incident That Led to the Ban
Vinicius Jr. came on in the 52nd minute of that Villarreal match and was sent off just 20 minutes later. Can you believe it? Twenty minutes! He thought he had scored, and coach Jose Mourinho was celebrating right alongside the team. But then VAR jumped in, ruled out the goal, and sent Vinicius off the pitch.
The VAR check showed exactly why: Vinicius Jr. had pulled Nathan Saliba’s hair before the goal. The Spanish Football Federation’s rules are clear on this: pulling an opponent’s hair is considered violent conduct. This act alone earned Vinicius a two-game ban for “violent conduct, without the possibility of playing the ball.” But it didn’t stop there. He got two additional games tacked on for “arguing with the referee with an aggressive attitude and having to be restrained by his teammates.” That’s a total of four games gone from domestic play, just like that.
Mourinho’s Take and What Comes Next
Coach Mourinho, who skipped the post-match press conference after the Villarreal game, spoke ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League match against AS Roma. He mentioned taking a different approach with Vinicius, trying to protect him by bringing him on later in the game. Mourinho felt it worked, saying the stadium “immediately rallied behind him the moment he started warming up.” The coach believed it was a “crucial turning point,” and that Vinicius “played very well.” Of course, Mourinho called the goal and the sending off “a shame,” but he also felt “something clicked for him, reigniting that joy and reminding him of the kind of player he truly is.”
So, which games will Vinicius Jr. miss? Domestically, he’s out for matches against Sevilla, Barcelona (the big one!), Racing Santander, and Valencia. This ban only applies to domestic competitions, though. Good news for Champions League play: Vinicius will be able to hit the pitch against AS Roma on Wednesday, then against RB Leipzig, and on November 4 against AEK Athens.
Fans will have to wait until after the November international break to see him in LaLiga again. His next eligible league match for Real Madrid will be on November 22 against Celta Vigo. Until then, it’s Champions League only for Vini.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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