Real Madrid: Vinicius hangs four matches, including Clasico against Barcelona

Vinicius Jr will be absent from the next Clasico. The attacker of Real Madrid won four suspension matches on Wednesday 14 October after being excluded in the victory against Villarreal (1-0). West France, Al Jazeera and RMC Sport converge on the main consequence: the Brazilian will miss the trip against FC Barcelona on 25 October. The penalty relates not only to her hairprint, but also to her behavior after the red card. [S1] [S2] [S4]

Two separate sanctions

According to Ouest-France and RMC Sport, the disciplinary commission of the Spanish Football Federation has chosen two parts: two suspension meetings for the gesture on Nathan Saliba, and two more for the protests against the referee. Foot Mercato reports the same distribution. Presenting the four matches as the only consequence of the hair draw would therefore mask part of the decision. [S1] [S4] [S5]

RMC Sport states that the disciplinary report relayed by the Spanish press describes the first act of violent conduct outside of a situation where the ball can be contested. For the second, the media reproduces elements of the arbitral report describing a screaming player and approaching the referee with an "aggressive attitude", before being retained by his teammates. This assessment is that of the arbitrator, not an independent qualification of the media. [S4]

From celebrated purpose to exclusion

The sequence took place on Saturday against Villarreal on the eighth day of Liga. In the second period, Vinicius thought he had a goal before video assistance led the referee to review the beginning of the action. The hair draw on Nathan Saliba led to the cancellation of the goal and a direct exclusion. Al Jazeera and Fox Sports' Associated Press account both describe this reversal, while the player was already celebrating. [S2] [S4] [S6]

Not all reports are excluded at the same minute, but agree on the sequence: gesture on the adversary, object refused after video intervention, red card, and then protests. Real Madrid nevertheless retained its victory thanks to Yan Diomandé's goal. This sporting outcome did not erase the disciplinary follow-up of the two behaviours accused of the attacker. [S1] [S2] [S4] [S6]

Four Liga appointments without Vinicius

The absence will surpass the only shock against Barcelona. RMC Sport details the matches involved: Seville on 18 October, Barça on 25 October, Racing Santander on 1 November and Valencia on 7 November. West France and Foot Mercato quote the same opponents. José Mourinho will have to compose without the winger for this series of four championship matches. [S1] [S4] [S5]

However, the scope of the sanction remains distinct depending on the competition. Foot Mercato states that Vinicius remains available for the Champions League matches against Roma and Leipzig. The immediate sporting cost thus concerns the championship, without this suspension alone allowing to prejudge the results of the Real or its chances of title. [S5]

An apology, but a challenge that does not resolve the file

After the meeting, Vinicius apologized to his team and supporters on Instagram, according to Ouest-France, Al Jazeera and Associated Press. The latter stated that the message did not mention Nathan Saliba. Mourinho, for his part, did not appear before the press, an absence which West France reports as a protest against arbitration. These reactions did not prevent the announcement of the suspension. [S1] [S2] [S6]

An adverse testimony brings a nuance on the intention, without contesting the red card: questioned after the match, the defender of Villarreal Juan Foyth considered that Vinicius probably did not seek to hurt, while judging the exclusion justified. His assessment, reported by Associated Press, however, does not affect the proportionality of the four matches announced afterwards. The articles consulted detailing this sanction do not specify the existence of an action which could alter the absences foreseen. [S6] [S1] [S4] [S5]