Vini Jr's fury after red sees him shove staff in Bernabeu tunnel

Vinicius Jr was sent off on Saturday the 10th as Real Madrid edged Villarreal 1‑0 in the eighth round of La Liga. Camera footage later showed the Brazilian attacker pushing a La Liga staff member in the tunnel of the Santiago Bernabéu, sparking immediate controversy.

Incident captured in the tunnel

A still labelled Foto: Real Madrid via Instagram circulated online, displaying Vini Jr visibly angry. The footage shows his compatriot Endrick stepping in to restrain him as he lunges at the employee. The altercation did not appear in the official match report, a detail that could aid his defence.

Consequences for Real Madrid

The clash unfolded at the 28th minute of the second half, moments after Vini Jr had found the net. VAR officials recommended a review for an alleged hair‑pull on defender Nathan Saliba. Referee Isidro Díaz de Mera then ordered the Brazilian to the dressing room early.

In the final match summary the referee recorded an ‘aggressive attitude’ by Vini Jr, suggesting the sanction could be heightened. Regardless, league rules trigger an automatic ban for the next fixture, meaning he will miss Real Madrid’s clash with Sevilla on Sunday the 18th.

Real Madrid now worry the suspension could spill over into the upcoming classic against Barcelona on 25 October at the Spotify Camp Nou. Their rivals sit top of La Liga with a perfect record this season, raising the stakes of Vini Jr’s absence.

To date Vini Jr has featured in nine league games, scoring once and providing three assists. Coach José Mourinho opted to withdraw the number‑seven after the red card, handing a debut to youngster Yan Diamonde, who went on to score the decisive goal.

Vinicius was hailed as Brazil’s marquee player at the World Cup and delivered strong performances for Real Madrid last season. His name was linked with several clubs, and a move to Arsenal nearly materialised in the previous transfer window.