Vinicius may miss El Clásico after red card damning referee report

Abdullateef Fowewe

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior faces a significant threat of missing the upcoming El Clásico against Barcelona after receiving a straight red card and being cited for aggressive behaviour in the referee’s official report.

The Brazilian forward was sent off in the 73rd minute of Real Madrid’s 1-0 La Liga victory over Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday night.

Vinicius, who had come off the bench, thought he had scored to make it 2-0, but VAR intervened.

Replays showed he had pulled the hair of Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba during the build-up while the ball was not being contested.

Referee Isidro Díaz de Mera disallowed the goal and showed a direct red card for violent conduct.

In his match report, Díaz de Mera went further.

He wrote that after the dismissal, while still on the pitch, Vinicius “continued protesting my decision, shouting at the top of his voice, moving toward the area where I was with an aggressive attitude,” and had to be restrained by teammates.

The official noted he could not make out any specific insults.

Under Spanish football disciplinary rules, pulling an opponent’s hair is classed as violent conduct.

When the action occurs without the possibility of contesting the ball, the minimum suspension is typically two matches, with the range extending to three.

The additional description of aggressive protests after the red card raises the possibility of a longer ban.

Real Madrid’s next league fixture is against Sevilla on 18 October.

El Clásico follows on 25 October at Camp Nou. A two-match ban would therefore rule Vinicius out of both games.

Club sources and Spanish media indicate Real Madrid already expect him to miss the Clásico and are preparing accordingly, with some reports suggesting the club anticipates a possible three-match sanction that they may try to reduce on appeal.

Vinicius later apologised on social media, writing that he was “sorry to my team and the fans.”

Manager José Mourinho declined to speak to the press after the match.

Vinicius has been one of Real Madrid’s most important attackers in recent seasons, known for his pace, dribbling and goal contributions in big matches.

However, he has also been involved in several high-profile referee-related controversies, often claiming unfair treatment.

Hair-pulling is explicitly listed under violent conduct in the regulations and is rarely treated as a standard one-match ban when it occurs off the ball.

El Clásico remains the most intense fixture in Spanish football.

Missing such a match would be a major blow for Real Madrid, especially with the side under Mourinho looking to challenge Barcelona in the title race.

The disciplinary committee is expected to rule in the coming days.