Vinicius Jr. Sent Off for Hair Pull, Could Miss El Clasico

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. received a red card during Saturday's La Liga match against Villarreal. The Brazilian star had a goal disallowed after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review and was subsequently sent off for pulling an opponent's hair. Following the incident, Vinicius issued an apology to his teammates and the club's fans.

Highlights

• Vinicius Jr.'s goal against Villarreal was overturned by VAR.
• He received a direct red card for pulling Nathan Saliba's hair.
• He could face a ban of one to three matches pending a disciplinary committee ruling.
• If suspended, he risks missing the highly anticipated El Clasico against rivals Barcelona in two weeks.
• He posted an apology on social media after the match.

Details

The incident occurred after Vinicius, who came on in the 52nd minute, scored a goal just 20 minutes later. Referee Isidro Diaz de Mera was called by VAR to review the play leading up to the goal. The referee determined that Vinicius had pulled Nathan Saliba's hair, a move considered violent conduct under Royal Spanish Football Federation regulations.

Vinicius's goal was disallowed, and he was shown a red card. The player reacted angrily to the decision, protesting before being calmed down by his teammates and escorted off the field. Villarreal defender Juan Foyth commented that he didn't believe Vinicius intended to injure anyone, but acknowledged it was a red card offense. Referee Diaz de Mera noted in his match report that Vinicius "protested my decision, raising his voice, toward where I was standing in an aggressive manner, and being held back by teammates."

Why it matters

According to Article 130 of La Liga's rules, violent conduct that does not cause injury to an opponent carries a suspension of one to three matches. With Real Madrid's upcoming fixtures against Sevilla, Barcelona, and Racing Santander, the 26-year-old Brazilian international potentially missing El Clasico would be a significant blow. This situation could impact Real Madrid's strategy in the title race.