Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior could miss the highly anticipated El Clásico against Barcelona after receiving a straight red card in his side’s 1–0 victory over Villarreal. The Brazilian forward has apologised to his teammates and the club’s supporters, but he now faces a nervous wait for the disciplinary committee’s decision. A suspension could rule him out of the October 25 showdown at Camp Nou. Reuters
What Happened to Vinícius Jr Against Villarreal?
Vinícius started the match on the bench before coming on in the 52nd minute as Real Madrid looked to strengthen their position in the LaLiga title race.
Real had taken the lead through Yan Diomande, but the match’s biggest talking point came when Vinícius appeared to have doubled the advantage.
The Brazilian celebrated after finding the net, only for the goal to be disallowed following a VAR review. The review revealed that he had pulled the hair of Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba earlier in the attacking move.
Referee Isidro Díaz de Mera consulted the pitchside monitor before showing Vinícius a straight red card for the incident. Real Madrid were forced to finish the match with 10 players but held on to secure a valuable 1–0 victory. Real Madrid
Vinícius Apologises After Controversial Dismissal
Following the match, Vinícius took to social media to apologise to his teammates and Real Madrid supporters.
The forward wrote: “Sorry to the team and the fans.”
His apology came after a frustrating evening in which he went from believing he had scored an important goal to being dismissed following the VAR intervention.
The incident has placed the Brazilian under fresh scrutiny, with the disciplinary committee now expected to determine the length of his suspension under Spanish football regulations. Reuters
Could Vinícius Miss El Clásico Against Barcelona?
This is the biggest question facing Real Madrid supporters.
Under the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary rules, hair-pulling can be treated as violent conduct. The applicable rules provide for a suspension of one to three matches, depending on the circumstances and the disciplinary ruling.
Real Madrid’s upcoming domestic fixtures include Sevilla, Barcelona and Racing Santander. Depending on the punishment, Vinícius could miss one or more of those matches.
A ban covering two or three league games would put his availability for El Clásico at serious risk. Spanish media reports have suggested that missing the Barcelona clash is a genuine possibility, although the final sanction has not yet been confirmed. Reuters AS
For now, Vinícius has not been officially ruled out of El Clásico. His availability will depend on the disciplinary committee’s decision and any successful appeal by Real Madrid.
A Major Potential Blow for Real Madrid
Vinícius remains one of Real Madrid’s most dangerous attacking players, and losing him for a match against Barcelona would be a significant setback.
El Clásico is one of the defining fixtures of the Spanish football season, often carrying major implications for the LaLiga title race. Real Madrid will therefore be keen to understand the likely length of the suspension and whether there are grounds to challenge the decision.
The timing is particularly sensitive because the club must balance its domestic campaign with its European commitments. The dismissal does not automatically mean Vinícius will miss Champions League matches, as domestic suspensions and European disciplinary decisions are handled under different competition rules.
What Happens Next?
The next major step is the disciplinary committee’s ruling. Its decision will determine whether Vinícius receives a one-match suspension or a longer ban that could keep him out of El Clásico.
Real Madrid may also consider challenging the punishment once the official decision is issued.
Until then, the Brazilian forward and Madrid supporters face an anxious wait, with one of the season’s biggest fixtures potentially hanging in the balance.
The bottom line: Vinícius Jr has apologised after his VAR-assisted red card against Villarreal, but whether he misses El Clásico will depend on the final disciplinary ruling.
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