Vinicius Junior Handed Two-Match La Liga Ban Following Red Card Incident

Real Madrid’s Brazilian winger, Vinicius Junior, has been handed a two-match suspension by La Liga following his red card during the club’s 2-1 victory over Valencia.

The incident, which took place last Friday, saw Vinicius push goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski in the back of the neck after the Valencia shot-stopper had initially shoved him.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, Real Madrid managed to turn the match around and move to the top of the league standings.

Vinicius Set to Miss Two League Matches

Due to the suspension, Vinicius will not be available for Real Madrid’s upcoming La Liga fixtures against Las Palmas and Real Valladolid.

However, he will still be eligible to play in the Spanish Super Cup, which is scheduled to take place this week in Saudi Arabia. The Brazilian winger will be able to participate in the semi-final match against Mallorca on Thursday.

The red card for violent conduct came when Vinicius reacted to a shove from Dimitrievski, pushing him in the neck.

Although the referee awarded Vinicius a red card for the action, Real Madrid still managed to secure a 2-1 victory over Valencia, with goals from Joselu and Antonio Rudiger, and moved to the top of the table.

Ancelotti’s Defense of Vinicius and the Red Card Decision

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, speaking from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, expressed his belief that the two-match ban was unjustified.

He stated, “Both I and he hear what happens on the field. I keep saying that being Vinicius is difficult. The sanction is not correct.”

Ancelotti continued to defend Vinicius, suggesting that the winger has been unfairly targeted with insults during matches and that this often leads to his emotional reactions.

Ancelotti also emphasized that he had no concerns about tempering Vinicius’ on-field behavior. “We are delighted with Vinicius in all aspects,” the manager added. “When talking about Vinicius’ provocations, we are diverting attention from the insults he receives.”

Despite the controversy surrounding the red card and the suspension, Ancelotti confirmed that he was happy with Vinicius’ overall performances and behavior.

The Italian coach also made it clear that the focus on Vinicius, rather than the abuse he faces, is a distraction from the real issue.

Real Madrid’s Next Steps and Upcoming Competitions

Following their victory over Valencia, Real Madrid are now preparing for their Spanish Super Cup semi-final match against Mallorca, set for Thursday evening.

If they progress to the final, they will face either Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao. Ancelotti emphasized that penalties would be used to decide the outcome in case of a draw after 90 minutes, a scenario he finds favorable as it avoids the potential complications of extra time.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s next La Liga matches against Las Palmas and Real Valladolid will proceed without Vinicius, though the team is confident that they can continue to perform well in his absence.

The team will be able to rely on other key players as they look to maintain their position at the top of the table.

The Impact of Racial Abuse on Vinicius

As has been the case on several occasions in recent seasons, Vinicius has faced racial abuse from sections of opposition fans.

During the post-match discussions, Ancelotti was asked about the alleged racial insults Vinicius has been subjected to.

While the Competition Committee and La Liga officials did not include racism as a justification for Vinicius’ red card, Ancelotti has been vocal about the difficulty of dealing with such abuse.

“Everyone thinks what they want. When talking about Vinicius’ provocations, we are diverting attention from the insults he receives,” Ancelotti remarked.

This statement underscored the ongoing issue of racism in football and highlighted the need for a more nuanced approach to handling such matters.

Vinicius had apologized to Real Madrid fans after the match, acknowledging his mistake and thanking his teammates for their support in the win against Valencia.

As the team now focuses on the upcoming Super Cup and their continued La Liga campaign, the challenges faced by the Brazilian winger remain at the forefront of both team discussions and media coverage.