JPL
Vinicius Jr's hair‑pulling red threatens his El Clasico appearance
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr could miss the forthcoming El Clasico after being shown a straight red card for pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair in the 72nd minute of Saturday’s 1‑0 victory over Villarreal. The Brazilian’s goal was overturned by VAR and the dismissal now threatens his availability.
Red card and VAR decision
Vinicius Jr was dismissed for violent conduct in the 72nd minute after pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair. The referee, Isidro Díaz de Mera, showed a straight red card and the VAR subsequently ruled out the goal that had appeared to give Madrid a second. Under Law 12 of the IFAB, deliberate hair‑pulling constitutes violent conduct and warrants a direct dismissal.
José Mourinho celebrated wildly on the touchline before the decision was reversed, then received a yellow card for his protests. After the match the Portuguese manager refused to attend the mandatory post‑match press conference, opting to stay away from Real Madrid TV cameras. Vini’s exuberant reaction was evident before the VAR intervention. The incident left Mourinho with an unnecessary disciplinary headache ahead of the club’s next two league games.
Impact on upcoming fixtures
The 26‑year‑old Brazilian could miss Real’s next La Liga fixture against Sevilla and, if the suspension is upheld, the El Clasico on 25 October. Vinicius entered the Villarreal game after replacing Trent Alexander‑Arnold just 20 minutes into the first half. Madrid are expected to appeal the dismissal in the hope of sparing their key attacker for the high‑profile clash.
Teenager Yan Diomande scored the decisive 62nd‑minute goal, his first for the club since arriving from RB Leipzig in August. The transfer was reported to be worth up to £120 million. Real Madrid remain six points behind the defending champions after eight matches, making the upcoming El Clasico even more significant. Earlier in the day Barcelona strengthened their lead with a 3‑0 victory over Getafe, leaving Madrid needing three points.
Nathan Saliba, a 22‑year‑old Canadian, left Anderlecht in August to join Villarreal on a contract that runs until 2031. The former Anderlecht midfielder made his debut for the Spanish side in the match against Real Madrid.
VAR drama changes Real Madrid's lead against Villarreal
Vinicius posted an apology on Instagram following the red card, acknowledging his mistake. He confirmed he will sit out the Sevilla encounter while the disciplinary process continues.