Vinicius Junior threatens Clasico: his expulsion report aggravates the sanction

Vinicius Junior faces a suspension of several matches after his expulsion during Real Madrid-Villarreal (1-0) on Saturday, a scenario that directly threatens his participation in the Clasico on October 25 against FC Barcelona.

Referee Isidoro Diaz de Mera showed the red card in the 73rd minute after determining that the Brazilian had pulled Dylan Saliba’s hair on a disallowed action that could have made it 2-0. But it is the content of his official report, relayed by Marca, that worsens the situation of Real Madrid’s number 7.

In this document, the referee details Vinicius’s behavior after his expulsion: “The player, after being sent off and still on the pitch, continued to protest against my decision, shouting and approaching the area where I was located with an aggressive attitude.” The official also specifies that the winger “had to be restrained by his teammates,” while indicating he observed “no particular expression” — meaning: no insults or defamatory remarks directed at him.

This dual offense — the gesture on Saliba and the post-expulsion behavior — places Vinicius in a delicate position before the disciplinary commission. Hair-pulling is classified as CV.1 under the regulations, an infraction that in the vast majority of cases results in a suspension of more than one match.

Concretely, the Brazilian will miss at minimum the home match against Sevilla FC on October 18 in La Liga. But if the commission imposes a suspension of two matches or more, he would also be absent from the Clasico on October 25 at Santiago Bernabéu, one of the most anticipated fixtures of the La Liga season. A prospect that transforms an already costly expulsion into a genuine sporting crisis for Real Madrid.