Vinicius Junior handed four-match LaLiga ban for Saliba hair pull and protests, will miss Clasico at Barcelona
Spain's football federation added two games for protesting to the referee on top of a two-match ban for the red card at Villarreal. Vinicius misses Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing and Valencia.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior will miss the Clasico against Barcelona after the Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee handed him a four-match LaLiga suspension on Wednesday, 14 October. The Brazilian was sent off for pulling the hair of Villarreal's Nathan Saliba during Real's 1-0 home win on Saturday. Two matches of the ban relate to the red card itself, and two more were added for protesting to the referee after his dismissal.
What happened against Villarreal
Vinicius started the game on the bench and was shown a straight red card after coming on, for grabbing Saliba's hair. Real still held on to win 1-0 through a goal from Yan Diomande.
The incident did not end with the red card. In his match report, referee Isidro Diaz de Mera wrote that Vinicius protested the decision by raising his voice and moving towards him in an aggressive way. The disciplinary committee treated that as a separate offence, which is why the total ban is four games rather than two.
The four games he will miss
The suspension applies to league matches only. Vinicius will sit out:
- Real Madrid v Sevilla, Sunday, 18 October
- Barcelona v Real Madrid, Sunday, 25 October, at Camp Nou
- Racing Santander v Real Madrid (away)
- Valencia v Real Madrid (away)
Because the ban covers LaLiga only, he remains available for Real's Champions League matches. Madrid won 4-3 at Roma on Wednesday night to keep their European campaign on track.
A blow before the Clasico
The timing is difficult for Jose Mourinho. Vinicius had started all but one of Real's matches this season and is one of the coach's most-used attackers. His absence comes as Real chase league leaders Barcelona, who are currently six points clear of Madrid.
Mourinho has already had to manage a crowded attacking department. Kylian Mbappe is back from injury and scored in Rome, while young forwards such as Endrick and Carlos Espi were both on the scoresheet in the comeback at the Stadio Olimpico. Those players are now likely to carry more of the load in Spain over the next four league rounds.
Apology, but no word on an appeal
Vinicius apologised to his team-mates and Real Madrid supporters on social media after the Villarreal game. Reports on the ban did not say whether the club plan to appeal. If the suspension stands, his next league appearance will come after the Valencia match.
For Malaysian fans, the Clasico on 25 October is one of the biggest dates of the European football calendar. The final kick-off time will be confirmed closer to the match, and Malaysia-time viewers should expect a late-night or early-morning start, as usual for weekend LaLiga fixtures.
Key takeaways
- Vinicius Junior has been banned for four LaLiga matches by the Spanish federation's disciplinary committee.
- Two games are for pulling Nathan Saliba's hair and two for protesting to referee Isidro Diaz de Mera.
- He will miss Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia, including the Clasico on 25 October.
- The ban does not apply to the Champions League.
FAQ
Why was Vinicius Junior banned? He was sent off for pulling Nathan Saliba's hair against Villarreal and was then punished further for protesting aggressively to the referee.
Will Vinicius play in the Clasico? No. The Clasico at Camp Nou on 25 October 2026 is the second of the four LaLiga matches covered by his suspension.
Can Vinicius play in the Champions League? Yes. The suspension covers LaLiga matches only, so he can still play in Real Madrid's Champions League games.
Sources: Reuters via The Star, Associated Press via Fox Sports, beIN Sports