Real Madrid will face a significant setback ahead of their highly anticipated La Liga clash against Barcelona, as winger Vinicius Junior has been handed a four-match suspension by the Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee. The ban, confirmed on Wednesday, stems from his red card received last week for pulling the hair of Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba.
The disciplinary panel imposed a two-match suspension for Vinicius’s violent conduct during an incident where he was not contesting the ball, and an additional two-game ban related to his protests directed at match officials. This ruling means the Brazilian star will miss crucial fixtures against Sevilla on October 18, Barcelona on October 25, Racing Santander on November 1, and Valencia on November 7.
The Impact of Vinicius’s Suspension on Real Madrid
Despite Vinicius’s sending off, Real Madrid, currently placed fourth under coach José Mourinho, managed to secure a 1-0 victory over Villarreal, keeping them six points behind league leaders Barcelona. The red card followed a VAR review that also disallowed a goal Vinicius had scored shortly after the hair-pulling incident.
Following the referee Isidro Diaz de Mera’s decision, Vinicius reacted with visible frustration, requiring intervention from his teammates to restrain him as he confronted the official. Mourinho shared his displeasure with the officiating and notably chose not to attend the post-match press conference in protest.
Vinicius has since issued an apology regarding the incident, acknowledging the situation that led to his suspension. This absence will force Real Madrid to adjust their attacking lineup significantly as they prepare for one of the season’s most pivotal fixtures against their historic rivals.