Vinicius Jr Handed Four-Game Ban, to Miss El Clasico
Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr receives a four-match suspension for violent conduct and protests, ruling him out of the Clasico against Barcelona.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr will be absent for the upcoming El Clasico against Barcelona after the Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee issued a four-game suspension. The ban follows his red card in Real Madrid's 1-0 victory over Villarreal last Saturday.
Vinicius was sent off after pulling Nathan Saliba's hair, an incident that also led to a disallowed goal. He had entered the match in the 52nd minute and believed he had scored Real's second, but the referee reviewed the buildup on the pitchside monitor, spotted the hair pull, and overturned the goal while dismissing the player.
The committee suspended Vinicius for two matches for behaving violently while not in a position to challenge for the ball, and added two more for protests directed at the officials. As a result, he will sit out the fixtures against Sevilla on 18 October, Barcelona on 25 October, Racing Santander on 1 November, and Valencia on 7 November.
After the match, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho did not attend the post-match news conference. Vinicius later expressed regret on social media, apologizing to the team and the club's supporters for his actions.
The suspension represents a significant setback for Real Madrid, who will be without a key attacking option for a crucial stretch of league matches, including the highly anticipated Clasico. The absence of Vinicius adds to the challenges facing Mourinho's side as they navigate a demanding schedule.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
