In brief: Reports in Spain say Real Madrid plan to appeal Vinícius Jr.’s 71st-minute red card against Villarreal, despite limited confidence that the decision will be overturned. The Brazilian has reportedly apologised to teammates and explained that he did not intend to hurt Nathan Saliba, while a separate allegation that he pushed a La Liga employee could intensify the disciplinary case. His potential availability for the Clásico on October 25 now hangs on the sanction.
Vinícius Jr.’s dismissal against Villarreal has become more than a disputed decision on the pitch. According to Spanish radio station COPE, Real Madrid are expected to challenge the red card, shown after the forward pulled Nathan Saliba’s hair, even though the club reportedly see little prospect of success. The incident sparked an angry response from the Madrid bench, where the atmosphere was described as unusually volatile.
Further details from El Chiringuito have shifted attention to what happened after the match incident. Vinícius reportedly took time in the dressing room to regain his composure before apologising to his teammates and telling them he had not meant to injure his opponent. With a possible suspension threatening his place in the October 25 meeting with Barcelona, the episode has become a football controversy with consequences for Real Madrid’s next fixtures as well as its internal dynamics.
Vinícius Jr.’s red card against Villarreal puts Real Madrid on appeal
The dismissal came in the 71st minute, following the contact with Saliba. COPE reports that Madrid intend to appeal, but the club’s prospects are considered slim; the referee’s report and available footage are expected to be central to the disciplinary review.
The immediate reaction from the bench was reportedly fierce. José Mourinho, angered by the decision, skipped the post-match press conference, with Marca reporting that he wanted to avoid comments that might bring a further sanction and put his own participation in the Clásico at risk. That response underlined how quickly an individual on-field outburst can become a broader issue of player discipline.
The alleged push on a La Liga employee adds a new disciplinary question
El Chiringuito has also reported that Vinícius allegedly pushed a La Liga employee while leaving the field. This claim is separate from the hair-pulling incident and has not, in the information reported, been established as a formal finding; the relevant footage and the referee’s account may influence how officials assess the sequence.
That distinction matters. The appeal concerns the sending-off, while any additional allegation could broaden the disciplinary discussion and increase uncertainty around the length of a potential suspension. For Real Madrid, the key question is whether the review treats the events as one heated episode or considers each alleged action separately.
Real Madrid locker-room reaction and the Clásico suspension risk
According to El Chiringuito, Vinícius apologised to his teammates after taking several minutes in the dressing room to calm down. He reportedly said the contact happened in the heat of play as he tried to free himself from Saliba’s marking, and that he had not intended to cause harm.
The reported apology offers a sign of an effort to ease team tensions, but it does not settle the disciplinary case. If the sanction rules him out, the timing would be especially significant: the Clásico against Barcelona is scheduled for October 25, making the appeal’s outcome a major concern for the squad and its supporters.
Upcoming fixtures test Madrid’s focus after the match incident
Madrid are due to travel to face Roma in the Champions League on Wednesday, October 14, two days after the reports were published. The immediate challenge is to keep the controversy from overshadowing preparation, while the club waits for the disciplinary decision and the outcome of its appeal.
For a club accustomed to intense sports headlines, the episode brings together three pressures: the referee’s decision, the alleged conduct as Vinícius left the pitch, and the dressing-room response. The apology may help steady relations inside the squad, but only the disciplinary ruling will determine whether the fallout reaches the Clásico.
