Vinícius Júnior suspended four La Liga matches after hair-pull red card

Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior has been suspended for four La Liga matches by Spain's Football Federation following a red card for pulling Nathan Saliba's hair during Villarreal's match on 12 October. The suspension includes the El Clásico against Barcelona on 25 October.

Quick Facts

Red card for pulling hair during match
VAR disallowed a goal in the incident
Four-match La Liga suspension issued
Two matches for violent conduct outside of play
Two matches for protests to the referee

Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior has been suspended for four La Liga matches following his red card in the 72nd minute of his team's 1–0 victory against Villarreal on 12 October. The Brazilian was sent off for pulling the hair of Villarreal midfielder Nathan Saliba during the incident, which occurred after a goal by Vinícius was disallowed by VAR.

The Spanish Football Federation's Disciplinary Committee confirmed the suspension on 14 October. The sanction breaks down as two matches for violent conduct "outside of play while not in a position to challenge for the ball," and two additional matches for aggressive protests directed at the referee following his dismissal. Real Madrid's appeal of the red card was rejected.

The suspension means Vinícius will miss four consecutive La Liga fixtures: Sevilla (18 October), Barcelona (25 October), Racing Santander (1 November), and Valencia (7 November). Most significantly, he will miss the El Clásico at Camp Nou against Barcelona, one of the season's marquee matches. Real Madrid, managed by José Mourinho, currently sits fourth in La Liga with 18 points after eight matches.

Vinícius has played in nine matches across all competitions this season, scoring one goal and recording three assists. Following the incident, he posted on social media apologizing to his teammates and supporters for leaving Real Madrid with ten men during the final stages of the match. The player remains available for Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League commitments against Roma and other continental fixtures during his domestic suspension.

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#suspension #Villarreal #Real Madrid #Vinícius Júnior #red card #football #Barcelona #disciplinary action #El Clásico #La Liga

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Why This Matters

Vinícius' four-match suspension removes Real Madrid's leading attacking player from consecutive fixtures during a critical stretch of the La Liga season, most notably the El Clásico against Barcelona on 25 October. The suspension, upheld after Real Madrid's appeal, directly impacts team squad availability and competitive positioning in a crowded domestic schedule. Vinícius remains eligible for Champions League play, limiting the total disruption to the team's calendar.

Timeline & Sources

Oct 12, 2026

Wire

Vinícius apologizes on social media to teammates and supporters

Oct 13, 2026

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Real Madrid appeals the red card dismissal

Nov 1, 2026

Wire

Vinícius suspended: Real Madrid vs Racing Santander (La Liga)

Nov 7, 2026

Wire

Vinícius suspended: Real Madrid vs Valencia (La Liga)

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