Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior is confirmed to miss the upcoming El Clásico against Barcelona after receiving a straight red card during the match against Villarreal in matchday eight of La Liga.
The Brazilian international had started the match on the bench by decision of manager José Mourinho before coming on in the second half, quickly shifting from a potential match-winner to the center of a fresh crisis that will rob Los Blancos of one of their most vital assets for the toughest fixture of the season.
The incident unfolded when Vinícius scored what appeared to be a goal granting Real Madrid a 2-0 lead, prompting Mourinho to sprint out of his technical area to celebrate wildly with the player and his teammates—a scene reflecting the immense pressure the 25-year-old has endured over recent weeks.
However, Mourinho’s celebration was short-lived as the video assistant referee summoned the referee to review a preceding passage of play. Replays revealed that Vinícius had pulled Villarreal defender William Saliba by the hair away from any direct challenge for the ball, resulting in the goal being disallowed and a straight red card brandished at the Brazilian winger.
Article 121 of the Spanish FA’s Disciplinary Code stipulates a minimum one-match suspension for a straight red card, but the penalty increases to a minimum of two matches when the offense occurs without a chance of competing for the ball—a description fitting Vinícius’s infraction.
Furthermore, Article 130 categorizes violent conduct occurring away from the play as an offense carrying a ban of two to three matches, making Vinícius’s absence against Sevilla and Barcelona in La Liga certain, regardless of the final ruling on the exact duration of the suspension.
Real Madrid host Sevilla on October 18 at the Santiago Bernabéu before traveling to the Camp Nou to face Barcelona in El Clásico on the 25th of the month, leaving Mourinho without his Brazilian forward for a fixture that could heavily impact the title race.
Florentino Pérez’s board retain slim hopes of securing Vinícius’s availability for the Clásico should the relevant Spanish FA committees accept the anticipated appeal against the red card, though most expectations point to rejection, with the possibility that the Brazilian’s ban could even be extended to include a match against Racing.
