Vinicius Jr banned: Madrid star misses Barcelona clash after late tip

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid must miss the upcoming match against FC Barcelona because of his suspension, as he was only informed of the decision shortly before the Champions League showdown in Rome. The 26‑year‑old Brazilian criticised the timing, saying he only received the information upon his arrival at the stadium.

Four league games missed

The Real star will miss a total of four Spanish league games, including the duel with FC Barcelona on 25 October. The suspension stems from a red card he received in the 1‑0 win over FC Villarreal after he pulled opponent Nathan Saliba's hair during a sprint.

Additional two‑match sanction

In addition to the two games for the sending‑off offence, another two games were imposed because of his protests against the red card. Vinicius stressed that he has never committed a serious foul, but is himself frequently fouled and still often receives cards.

Coach's reaction

Coach José Mourinho echoed the criticism and asked the committee why the notification had not been made already in the morning. He reminded that Real is a Spanish club and a player preparing for an important match should not be informed of the suspension only two hours before kick‑off.

Vinicius Junior learns of the ruling before the Champions League match in Rome, which Real Madrid won there on Wednesday evening 4‑3 after trailing 1‑3. The winning goal was scored by former international Antonio Rüdiger in stoppage time.