Vinicius Jr is back in the spotlight at a crucial point in Real Madrid's season after a bizarre online rumour, a red card and a four-match suspension. Over the summer, his future at the club was uncertain, with contract talks stalling for more than 18 months and Arsenal reportedly among the clubs interested in the Brazilian. Those negotiations eventually reached a resolution, with Vinicius securing an improved deal, but the headlines continued. Conspiracy theories then claimed he had been replaced by a body double after cosmetic surgery following the World Cup.
The on-pitch controversy came against Villarreal. Jose Mourinho started Vinicius on the bench, the first time since last April he had not started for the club, with Yan Diomande given a place in the starting XI. Mourinho said it made him sad to see the pain the Brazilian felt, adding that he "deserves better treatment." Vinicius was booed and whistled by some supporters this season. After entering the game, he appeared to score a second goal after a Jude Bellingham assist, only for a VAR review to show him pulling Nathan Saliba's hair. The goal was overturned and he was shown a straight red card, then protested the decision.
The Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee handed Vinicius a four-match suspension, two for the hair-pulling and two for his protests. He is ruled out of league fixtures against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia, meaning he will miss El Clasico unless an appeal changes the outcome.
Mourinho criticised the timing of the announcement, which came two hours before Real Madrid's Champions League match against Roma. He described the decision as showing "little respect" for the club and suggested the timing was intentional.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing