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Vinicius Jr Apologizes After Unusual Hair-Pulling Red Card Against Villarreal

Vinicius Jr, the forward for Real Madrid, has expressed regret after receiving a red card during their match against Villarreal. The incident, involving pulling an opponent's hair, might lead to him missing the upcoming El Clasico clash with Barcelona.

Unexpected Dismissal at the Santiago Bernabeu

The 26-year-old was brought on as a substitute in the 52nd minute to strengthen Real Madrid’s attack. However, he was sent off just 20 minutes later after a video assistant referee (VAR) review showed him grabbing Nathan Saliba’s hair in a build-up play. The match ended 1-0 in favor of Real Madrid, but the red card left the home fans surprised as their team had to finish with ten players.

Immediate Reaction from Vinicius Jr

Believing he had doubled Real Madrid’s lead, Vinicius’s celebrations were cut short when officials asked the referee to review the footage at pitchside. Instead of adding to the score, he was dismissed due to the physical foul. After the match, he quickly took to social media to apologize, posting: Sorry to the team and the fans.

Rules on Violent Conduct and Potential Suspension

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) will now assess the case under Article 130, which deals with violent acts that don’t cause direct injury. Pulling hair is classified under this rule, and the standard suspension ranges from one to three matches. A longer ban could rule Vinicius out of several key fixtures.

Upcoming Matches and Impact on El Clasico

Real Madrid faces a challenging period with games against Sevilla, Barcelona, and Racing Santander ahead. The disciplinary committee’s decision will decide how many matches Vinicius misses. The biggest worry is if he will be suspended for the El Clasico on October 25. A suspension of two or more matches would mean watching the game from the sidelines.

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