Vinicius Junior Faces Potential El Clásico Ban After Red Card Against Villarreal, Apologises to Real Madrid Fans

New Delhi, Oct 11: Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has apologised to his teammates and fans for receiving a straight red card for pulling the hair of his opponent in the 1-0 win against Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

As a consequence of that red card, there is a possibility that the Brazilian forward might miss the crucial El Clásico, scheduled to take place on October 25. However, it will be at the discretion of the disciplinary committee to determine the amount of punishment.
Vinícius was introduced after the break, but his appearance ended in controversy roughly 20 minutes later, when a VAR check led to his dismissal for pulling Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba's hair.

The Brazilian also saw what appeared to be his second goal disallowed, forcing Real Madrid to protect their slim advantage with just 10 men on the pitch.

Following the final whistle, the 26-year-old issued an apology on social media, expressing regret to his teammates and supporters: "Sorry to the team and the fans."

What Is La Liga's Law Regarding Such Cases?

Under the Spanish Football Federation's disciplinary code, pulling an opponent's hair is treated as violent conduct. Article 130 provides for a one- to three-match suspension when the incident does not result in an injury.

Real Madrid are scheduled to face Sevilla, Barcelona and Racing Santander in their next three league games. If Vinícius receives a ban that extends to the October 25 El Clásico at Camp Nou, his absence would be a significant blow for Madrid. The Brazilian now awaits the federation's ruling on the incident.

Meanwhile, Los Blancos' arch-rivals, FC Barcelona, have continued their winning streak ahead of the upcoming clash with Real Madrid. The Catalan giants won comfortably 3-0 against Getafe, securing their eighth consecutive victory. They will next face Andalusian side Real Betis.