Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has reportedly been handed a four-match suspension following a hair-pulling incident involving Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba during Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory on October 12.
The incident was reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which spotted Vinicius pulling Saliba’s hair. Referee Isidro Díaz de Mera subsequently disallowed the goal and sent off the Brazilian forward.
The Spanish Football Federation reportedly divided the punishment into two matches for violent conduct and another two for protesting against match officials. The suspension is expected to rule Vinicius out of fixtures against Sevilla, Barcelona on October 25, Racing Santander and Valencia.
Vinicius has questioned the severity of the punishment, reportedly saying he could not recall a similar incident resulting in a four-match suspension.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho also criticised the timing of the announcement, describing it as disrespectful given the team’s preparations for a Champions League fixture.
The decision has sparked debate among football fans, with some questioning the consistency of disciplinary measures and comparing the punishment with lighter sanctions imposed for similar hair-pulling incidents elsewhere.