Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior has reportedly been handed a four-match suspension following his dismissal against Villarreal in LaLiga, a decision that could rule him out of the upcoming El Clásico against Barcelona.
According to reports, the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee imposed a two-match ban for violent conduct and a further two matches for his reaction to the sending-off.
The incident reportedly took place during Real Madrid’s league encounter with Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday. Vinícius was shown a straight red card after an alleged hair-pulling incident involving Nathan Saliba.
A subsequent VAR review reportedly overturned a goal scored by the Brazilian, with the referee dismissing him over the incident.
Vinícius later expressed frustration over the timing of the disciplinary announcement and questioned the application of the rules. He also maintained that players had not been adequately informed about the specific regulations concerning hair-pulling.
The suspension, if confirmed, would prevent the forward from featuring in four domestic league matches, including the high-profile clash against Barcelona. However, a domestic ban would not ordinarily prevent him from playing in European competitions.
The reported punishment comes amid a challenging start to the season for Vinícius, who has struggled to find consistent form in front of goal.
