Vinícius Júnior faces disciplinary action following match against Villarreal

During a La Liga match on October 10, 2026, Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior received a direct red card after a VAR review confirmed he pulled the hair of Villarreal player William Saliba off the ball. The incident resulted in the cancellation of a goal Vinícius had scored shortly thereafter. The match concluded with a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid.

Following his dismissal, reports indicate that Vinícius reacted aggressively toward the referee and, while walking toward the tunnel, allegedly pushed a La Liga staff member positioned near the VAR monitor. Although the referee's official report noted the player’s aggressive verbal protests, the alleged physical contact with the staff member was not recorded in the official match documentation. Vinícius later apologized on social media but also shared posts criticizing officiating standards.

Vinícius now faces a potential suspension of two to three matches under Article 103.2 of the La Liga disciplinary code, which governs violent conduct occurring away from the flow of play. Such a sanction would likely rule him out of the upcoming El Clásico match against Barcelona on October 25. The final decision remains pending with the relevant disciplinary bodies.