La Liga To Punish Vinicius Jr. For Pulling Opponent's Hair, Could Miss Barcelona Game
Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior faces a potential multi-match suspension after receiving a straight red card for pulling an opponent's hair during a match against Villarreal. His subsequent protests toward the referee may increase the severity of the ban, potentially ruling him out of the upcoming El Clásico against Barcelona.
Why it matters
The potential absence of a star player for a high-stakes match like El Clásico has significant implications for La Liga standings and fan engagement.
Real Madrid's 1-0 win over Villarreal in La Liga today caused more drama for Real Madrid as the game witnessed Vinicius Junior receiving a straight red card.
The Brazilian winger thought he scored Real Madrid's second goal of the game, but a VAR check disallowed the goal due to Vinicius Jr. pulling the hair of Villarreal midfielder Nathan Saliba.
Vinicius was sent off, and the Brazilian player was protesting the decision to referee Isidro Diaz de Mera. The straight red card could see Vinicius Junior receiving a match ban, but his protests could make the sanction worse.
COPE reports that Vinicius Jr. could face a minimum of a two-match suspension for pulling Saliba's hair. If he faces a two-match suspension, Vinicius Junior would miss El Clásico match against FC Barcelona.
Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Real Madrid edge Villarreal, Vinicius sent off for hair pull
Real Madrid vs Villarreal predictions: Guler to shine in home win
Player Ratings: Real Madrid 1-0 Villarreal
Diomandé strikes, Vinícius sees red: Inside Real Madrid’s chaotic, dramatic win over Villarreal
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