Vinicius Junior apologises, complains after his sending off vs Villarreal

Vinicius Junior received a red card on Saturday night against Villarreal in La Liga after pulling Nathan Saliba's hair, saw his goal cancelled and first offered an apology on Instagram before posting a fan's reaction to complain about his fate.

Red card for hair pulling

The Real Madrid winger thought he had scored, but the referee disallowed the goal and sent him off for the gesture on Saliba. “The joy continues... Sorry to my team and the supporters,” he wrote, accompanied by a photo.

Twenty minutes later, the 26‑year‑old Brazilian shared a supporter’s post showing a montage of actions where opponents brutally hit him. The text reads: “The one who receives yellow and red cards is always Vinicius, what a shame.”

Vinicius slams double refereeing after disallowed Villarreal goal

Vinicius faces several matches of suspension, which complicates an already difficult start to the season for Real Madrid. His action has sparked strong criticism on social media.

Clearly frustrated, the player feels “the shadow of himself” both at Real Madrid and with the national team. This situation could affect his role as a key striker.

Real Madrid’s upcoming fixtures will be decisive in determining whether Vinicius can regain his usual level. What will happen to Vinicius, now under the spotlight?