Aurélien Tchouaméni expressed frustration with the officiating after Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Villarreal on Saturday, questioning the dismissal of teammate Vinícius Júnior. “I don’t understand what’s going on with the referees, with this red card,” the midfielder told Real Madrid TV, before emphasising that “the most important thing is the victory.” His comments reflected Madrid’s anger at the decision, but do not establish that the referee acted incorrectly or that officials favour their opponents.
Vinícius thought he had doubled Madrid’s lead after coming off the bench, only for a VAR review to reveal that he had pulled Nathan Saliba’s hair in the build-up. Referee Isidro Díaz de Mera disallowed the goal and showed the Brazilian a straight red card for violent conduct. Madrid nevertheless held on, with Yan Diomande’s goal securing a victory that kept them six points behind Barcelona.
The incident’s aftermath could also feature in the disciplinary assessment. The referee’s report recorded that Vinícius shouted in protest, approached him with an aggressive attitude and had to be restrained by teammates. Those observations concern the player’s reaction to the dismissal; they are separate from the footage that prompted the original decision.
José Mourinho did not attend the post-match press conference. His absence was confirmed by reporting from EFE, which also noted that the Madrid coach had protested several decisions during the match and received a yellow card himself. Spanish reports suggested he stayed away to avoid comments that might lead to a suspension, but that explanation should remain attributed rather than presented as a publicly confirmed statement from Mourinho.
Real Madrid’s television channel widened the dispute by questioning why VAR intervened in the Vinícius incident but did not review other challenges it considered serious. Those complaints raise a question about perceived consistency, not proof of systematic bias. Establishing whether separate incidents warranted intervention would require assessing each on its own circumstances rather than treating Madrid’s dissatisfaction as evidence of unfairness.
Vinícius’s public response also included an apology to his teammates and supporters. That acknowledgment is important context alongside the protests: the aftermath was not solely a campaign against the officials.
Madrid’s immediate concern is the length of his suspension and whether it will affect the October 25 Clásico. The disciplinary panel has yet to confirm the punishment, so his absence against Barcelona remains a possibility rather than a settled outcome. For now, Madrid have secured three points, but face uncertainty over the availability of an important attacking player.
