Vinícius Jr. faces potential two-match ban, risks missing El Clásico
Real Madrid forward Vinícius Jr. could be suspended for two games following his red card against Villarreal for violent conduct.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Author: Alejandro Ramos
Vinícius Júnior faces potential disciplinary action following his recent expulsion during Real Madrid's match against Villarreal in LaLiga. The Brazilian forward was shown a red card for pulling the hair of opponent Nathan Saliba.
Under RFEF regulations, this action is categorized as 'violent conduct,' which typically carries a two-match suspension. Should this ban be confirmed, Vinícius would be sidelined for crucial upcoming fixtures against Sevilla and Barcelona.
Although the player reacted aggressively toward referee Isidro Díaz de Mera immediately after the dismissal, the official's match report did not document any insults or physical attacks against the referee. This detail suggests the player may avoid an additional penalty, similar to a previous case involving teammate Antonio Rüdiger, who avoided extra sanctions after a red card in the 2025 Copa del Rey.
Precedent in Spanish football supports a standard two-match ban for this specific foul. Both Ferran Torres and Isabel Álvarez were previously suspended for two matches after being cited for similar incidents of pulling an opponent's hair while the ball was in play.