Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior is facing a nervous wait over his availability for the upcoming El Clásico after receiving a straight red card during his side's 1-0 La Liga victory over Villarreal. Introduced as a second-half substitute, the Brazilian winger thought he had doubled Madrid's lead following Yan Diomandé’s opening goal. However, a VAR intervention prompted referee Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos to review pitchside replays, which clearly showed Vinícius pulling the hair of Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba during a challenge. The official rescinded the goal and brandished a straight red card for violent conduct, leaving Real Madrid's talisman stunned.

Damning Referee Report Cites Aggressive Conduct

The severity of the incident escalated following the final whistle when the official match report was published, featuring critical remarks regarding the player's post-dismissal behaviour. Referee Díaz de Mera wrote that after being shown the red card, Vinícius “protested my decision, raising his voice, toward where I was standing in an aggressive manner, and being held back by teammates.” The match official noted that the forward had to be physically restrained and ushered away while continuing his verbal protests on the pitch. Following the incident, Vinícius took to social media to issue an apology, writing on Instagram: “Sorry to my team and my fans.”

El Clásico Availability Hangs in the Balance

With Real Madrid scheduled to visit Barcelona in two rounds, the additional remarks in the referee's report put Vinícius's participation in severe jeopardy. While a standard red card for violent conduct carries a mandatory suspension, the Spanish Football Federation's Disciplinary Committee will review the referee's description of aggressive behaviour to determine if an extended multi-match ban is warranted. Any additional sanctions could easily rule the winger out of the marquee fixture at the Camp Nou, dealing a significant blow to Real Madrid's tactical plans.