Vinícius Júnior faces disciplinary action following red card against Villarreal

During a football match between Real Madrid and Villarreal on October 11, 2026, Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior was issued a direct red card in the 73rd minute. The dismissal occurred following a VAR review which identified that the player had pulled the hair of Villarreal’s William Saliba while moving off the ball. Although Vinícius had scored a goal during the play, the intervention by referee Isidro Díaz led to its cancellation.

The disciplinary situation is further complicated by the match official's report, which noted that Vinícius displayed an aggressive attitude toward the referee after his dismissal, requiring intervention from teammates to restrain him. Under Article 103.2 of the La Liga disciplinary code, violent conduct outside the flow of play can result in a suspension of two to three matches, placing his participation in the upcoming El Clásico against Barcelona in serious doubt.

Following the incident, Vinícius issued a public apology via social media, but subsequently shared content questioning his treatment by referees. The player now awaits a formal ruling from the relevant disciplinary committees to determine the final length of his suspension.