Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has been suspended for four matches.
Vinicius received a red card in the 27th minute of the second half during the La Liga match against Villarreal on October 11. Although he scored in that match, the goal was disallowed after the referee reviewed a prior incident where Vinicius pulled the hair of Villarreal's Nathan Ake. As a result, he was sent off.
On October 15, the Spanish Football Association announced Vinicius's four-match suspension. The disciplinary committee imposed a two-match ban for 'violent conduct occurring when there was no possibility of contesting the ball or when the game was stopped,' and an additional two matches for 'protesting against the referee.'
According to the suspension, Vinicius will be unavailable for the league match against Sevilla on October 19. He is expected to return to the field only after the international break in November.
Real Madrid is set to face FC Barcelona in the 10th round of La Liga on October 26. This match, known as 'El Clasico,' draws significant attention from football fans worldwide. With Vinicius's absence, concerns are rising regarding Real Madrid's strength ahead of this crucial rivalry.
Meanwhile, Vinicius started in the UEFA Champions League match against AS Roma, where the suspension does not apply. He expressed frustration upon learning about the four-match ban just as he arrived at the stadium, stating, 'They had all day to announce the suspension, but I found out as soon as I got to the field.'
Real Madrid coach José Mourinho, who did not attend the press conference after the Villarreal match, also criticized the timing of the suspension announcement. He questioned the committee, saying, 'I want to ask why they announced the suspension two hours before such an important match, forgetting that Real Madrid is a Spanish club.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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