Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior has been suspended for four La Liga matches following a red card for violent conduct during Saturday’s 1‑0 victory over Villarreal. The Brazilian was shown a straight red in the 73rd minute after pulling the hair of Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba as the two sprinted down the flank. Referee Isidro Díaz de Mera consulted the video assistant referee, disallowed the goal that appeared to be Vinícius’s second, and sent the player off.

The Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee confirmed a two‑match ban for the hair‑pull itself, classifying the act as violent conduct while the player was not in a position to challenge for the ball. A further two‑match suspension was imposed for Vinícius’s protests toward the officials after the dismissal. The cumulative four‑game sanction means the forward will miss Real Madrid’s first El Clásico of the season, scheduled for October 25 at the Camp Nou, as well as the league fixtures against Sevilla, Racing Santander and Valencia.

Vinícius issued a public apology, expressing remorse to the club and its supporters. The incident arrives at a delicate moment for the Brazilian. Earlier this summer, Real Madrid opted to retain him, signing a long‑term extension after a brief negotiation stand‑off that had raised speculation about a possible sale. The club’s decision underscores its belief in his importance to the squad, yet the suspension forces coach Carlo Ancelotti to adjust his attacking options for a series of high‑profile matches.

While Vinícius will be unavailable for the domestic games listed above, the ban does not affect his participation in the Champions League. He remains eligible for the mid‑week European fixtures against RB Leipzig on October 21 and AEK Athens on November 4. Ancelotti will therefore have to rely on other wide‑players, such as Rodrygo and Federico Valverde