Vinícius Júnior faces a disciplinary ruling that could prevent him from playing in El Clásico after being sent off during Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Villarreal on Saturday. The Brazilian received a straight red card following a VAR review that showed him pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair in the build-up to what he thought was Madrid’s second goal. Referee Isidro Díaz de Mera disallowed the goal and dismissed the forward, leaving Madrid to protect their lead with ten players.
The immediate consequence is a suspension, but its length has not yet been confirmed. Madrid face Sevilla on October 18 before travelling to Barcelona on October 25, meaning a ban of two matches—not only the maximum three-match penalty discussed in some reports—would be enough to rule Vinícius out of the Clásico. The Spanish football federation’s disciplinary panel is expected to confirm his punishment during the coming week.
The referee’s report creates an additional concern. Díaz de Mera recorded that Vinícius disputed the dismissal while shouting, approached him with an aggressive attitude and had to be restrained by teammates. Those details could affect the panel’s assessment alongside the original hair-pulling incident. They do not, however, establish a final sanction before the committee has ruled.
Reporting on Article 130 of the federation’s disciplinary code distinguishes between violent conduct connected to play, which can carry a one-to-three-match suspension, and conduct away from the action when there is no possibility of challenging for the ball, which can carry two to three matches. The referee specifically noted that the ball was in play but that Vinícius and his opponent were not contesting possession, making the incident’s classification important.
Vinícius subsequently apologised to his teammates and supporters on Instagram. Villarreal defender Juan Foyth also commented on the incident, saying: “I don’t think he meant to hurt anyone but it is a red card.” Foyth was not the player whose hair was pulled; that was Saliba. His assessment of intent did not dispute the dismissal.
For Madrid, the central issue is now availability. The victory secured three points, but losing Vinícius for the trip to Barcelona would remove a major attacking option from one of the season’s most consequential fixtures. Until the disciplinary panel announces its decision, his Clásico absence remains a serious possibility rather than a confirmed outcome.
