Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Vinícius Sent Off as Real Madrid Hold On for Victory
Real Madrid played Villarreal in a La Liga match on Saturday.
Vinícius Júnior thought he had scored a goal for Madrid.
The referee reviewed what happened before the goal and decided Vinícius had pulled Nathan Saliba’s hair.
The goal was cancelled, and Vinícius was sent off.
Madrid had to finish the match with only 10 players.
The team still won 1-0.
Vinícius later said sorry to his team and fans.
Villarreal’s Juan Foyth said he did not think the pull was meant to hurt Saliba, but agreed it deserved a red card.
Vinícius Júnior received a direct red card after pulling Villarreal player Nathan Saliba’s hair.
The referee reviewed the incident before Vinícius’s apparent goal and disallowed it.
Real Madrid beat Villarreal 1-0 despite playing with 10 men from the 73rd minute.
Vinícius apologized to his team and fans on Instagram but did not mention Saliba.
Villarreal defender Juan Foyth said he did not think Vinícius meant to hurt anyone, but called it a red card.
- Who
- Real Madrid and Villarreal; Vinícius Júnior was sent off for pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair.
- What
- Real Madrid won 1-0 after a video review disallowed Vinícius’s apparent goal and led to his red card.
- When
- Saturday; Vinícius was sent off in the 73rd minute.
- Where
- In a La Liga match between Real Madrid and Villarreal.
- Why
- The referee sent Vinícius off after reviewing an incident in which he pulled Saliba’s hair.
Red card justified
No intent to hurt
Hair-pulling incident
Red card justified
The referee issued a direct red card after reviewing Vinícius’s pull on Nathan Saliba’s hair; Juan Foyth said it was a red-card offence.
No intent to hurt
Foyth said he did not think Vinícius meant to hurt Saliba.
- Competition
- La Liga
- Result
- Real Madrid 1-0 Villarreal
- Dismissal
- Vinícius Júnior received a direct red card in the 73rd minute.
- Reason for dismissal
- The referee judged that Vinícius had pulled Nathan Saliba’s hair.
- Goal review
- Vinícius’s apparent goal was disallowed after a video review.
- Madrid scorer
- Diomande scored in the 62nd minute, according to the article.
- Possible suspension
- The article says Vinícius could miss the match against Barcelona if the disciplinary commission extends his suspension beyond the mandatory one-game ban.