Vinicius apologizes after red card vs Villarreal: Could Real Madrid star miss El Clasico?

Vinicius Junior has apologized to his Real Madrid teammates and fans after a straight red card overshadowed their 1-0 LaLiga win over Villarreal on Saturday. The Brazilian’s suspension has intensified scrutiny of his difficult start to the season and left him facing an anxious wait over whether he could miss El Clasico against Barcelona on October 25.

Vinicius came off the bench in the 52nd minute and thought he had doubled Madrid’s lead after Yano Diomande’s opening goal. However, VAR spotted him pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair during the play, leading referee Isidro Diaz de Mera to disallow the goal and show him a straight red card.

“The joy continues… I apologize to my team and the fans,” Vinicius wrote on Instagram after the match.

He later shared a montage of calls against him on a fan account, accompanied by a complaint about the repeated booking. The controversy surrounding his reaction did not end with the apology.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH VINICIUS?

The sacking comes amid a slump in form that has spread beyond Madrid’s borders. Vinicius was left out of José Mourinho’s starting eleven against Villarreal for the first time this season, having been substituted earlier and earlier in recent games. He managed just one goal in nine games across competitions.

His struggles were also evident during Brazil’s recent friendlies against Australia and India. Vinicius scored from the penalty spot in Brazil’s 4-2 win over Australia but acknowledged the lack of goals for the national team.

“I played a few games without scoring a goal with the national team and felt the importance of getting back to scoring,” he said after that win.

Against India in Kolkata, Brazil won 4-0, but Vinicius struggled to make his mark. India’s tall defensive line has repeatedly caught him offside, limiting the space he needs to use his pace to take on defenders. His quality is unquestionable, but recent performances suggest he lacks the rhythm and confidence that make him such a dangerous striker.

COULD HE MISS EL CLASICO?

Spanish football regulations classify hair-pulling as violent behavior that can lead to a suspension of between one and three matches, unless there is an injury. Vinicius is therefore in danger of missing the October 25 clash at the Camp Nou, although the final punishment will depend on the decision of the disciplinary committee.

For Madrid, losing Vinicius for El Clasico would be a big setback. The immediate priority for the Brazilian is the disciplinary decision, but the wider challenge is to rediscover his best form and ensure that his performances rather than his behavior dominate the conversation.

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