In Madrid, Vinícius Júnior has addressed his dismissal against Villarreal with an apology to Real Madrid’s dressing room and supporters, while also reopening his familiar argument over how challenges against him are punished in Spain.
Key takeaways
- The Brazilian forward used social media to apologise following the Villarreal incident.
- Vinícius wrote: “The joy continues… Sorry to my team and the fans.”
- He also posted examples of fouls he believes should have resulted in red cards for opponents.
- He is definitely unavailable for Real Madrid’s home match against Sevilla on Sunday 18 October.
- The disciplinary committee must determine whether his ban also rules him out of the Barcelona fixture on Sunday 25 October.
An apology alongside a refereeing complaint
Vinícius chose to speak publicly after the controversy that led to his sending-off against Villarreal. His message acknowledged the consequences for his teammates and the Madrid support, with the forward offering a direct apology after the match.
Alongside that statement, however, he shared another social-media post collecting several challenges he has suffered during his time at the club which, in his view, did not bring dismissals for the opposing players.
The posts again place the spotlight on officiating decisions involving Vinícius, who has repeatedly expressed frustration over the treatment he receives on the pitch. His response combined regret over his own dismissal with a complaint about what he sees as inconsistent disciplinary standards.
Barcelona availability now rests with the committee
The forward’s season has already been difficult, and the dismissal has added a potentially significant absence to Madrid’s calendar. He was sent off after protesting to the referee, with the applicable regulations allowing for a two-match suspension if the offence is treated as aggression.
That makes his absence against Sevilla at the Bernabéu on 18 October certain. A longer punishment would also remove him from the trip to Camp Nou for the league’s Matchday 10 meeting with Barcelona, scheduled for 25 October.
Real Madrid must therefore await the committee’s ruling before knowing whether Vinícius will be available for one of the season’s defining cross-country fixtures.
