Vinicius scores, goal disallowed and then shown red card for pulling opponent’s hair

Real Madrid experienced a roller coaster match in their 1-0 victory over Villarreal on Saturday in La Liga. The star player Vinicius Jr found himself at the center of controversy, as he was sent off for pulling the hair of an opponent. However, the moments that captivated fans and media alike were the moments leading up to the red card being shown.

The Brazilian striker scored the only goal of the night, and manager Jose Mourinho was seen sprinting to join the celebration on the pitch. Unfortunately, this was followed by the goal being disallowed after a VAR review. Vinicius Jr was subsequently shown a red card for pulling the hair of Villarreal's Nathan Saliba during a sprint down the field.

The Brazilian player was visibly shocked and angry when the referee returned from the pitch-side monitor to issue the red card. His teammates had to physically pull him away from the official. Vinicius Jr later apologized to both his teammates and fans on Instagram, expressing his regret for the incident. Villarreal's defender, Juan Foyth, commented on the incident, stating that Vinicius Jr's tugging of Saliba's hair did not intend to cause harm.

Referee Diaz de Mera later detailed the incident in his match report, stating that Vinicius Jr protested the red card decision aggressively, raising his voice, and was subsequently held back by his teammates. The disciplinary commission may now consider adding a mandatory one-game suspension for Vinicius Jr, who would miss the upcoming match against Barcelona if the additional suspension is added.