Vinícius banned four games to miss Clásico as Mourinho slams suspension timing

Vinícius Júnior will miss Real Madrid’s away Clásico against Barcelona after receiving a four-match La Liga suspension for pulling an opponent’s hair and protesting against a referee. The ban also rules the Brazilian out of league fixtures against Sevilla, Racing Santander and Valencia.

The suspension was confirmed on the same day Real Madrid beat Roma 4-3 in the Champions League, and coach José Mourinho objected sharply to the timing. “We were on the bus about to arrive at the stadium when we found out,” Mourinho said, questioning whether it was normal for a player to learn of a four-game ban just two hours before kick-off.

Vinícius said he was surprised by the length of the sanction and denied using offensive language towards the official. Speaking after the Roma match, he argued that attacking players are routinely fouled without adequate protection from referees, claiming he had received 500 fouls across his career but that only five had resulted in a red card for opponents.

“When it comes to Vini, it is all too easy,” he said, describing what he sees as a disparity between the treatment he receives and the punishment handed to defenders who foul him. He extended his call for protection beyond his own case, specifically naming Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez as players who also deserve greater safeguarding.

The forward acknowledged he is not currently at his best, having failed to score for Real Madrid since August and managing just two goals for club and country at the time of the report. He said he was working to regain form and expressed confidence that goals would return.

Vinícius will be available again for Madrid’s La Liga campaign once the four-match suspension is served, with the fixtures against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia standing between him and his return.