Real Madrid lose Vinicius Junior suspension appeal as Barcelona clash looms
· Yahoo Sports
Real Madrid have failed in their appeal against Vinicius Junior’s four-match suspension, leaving the Brazilian forward set to miss the first El Clasico of the season against Barcelona.
The Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) appeals committee has upheld the punishment imposed following Vinicius’s dismissal during Madrid’s La Liga encounter with Villarreal last weekend.
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The 26-year-old received a red card for pulling an opponent’s hair, with his subsequent reaction towards the referee resulting in an additional sanction.
Vinicius was handed a two-match suspension for the incident itself and another two games for his conduct after being dismissed.
Madrid challenged the decision, but the disciplinary authorities maintained that the available footage supported the referee’s account.
The committee concluded that the Brazilian had approached the official aggressively following his dismissal, requiring intervention from teammates.
Unless Madrid succeed with a further appeal, Vinicius will miss league fixtures against Sevilla, Racing Santander, Barcelona and Valencia.
The club are expected to take their case to Spain’s Administrative Sports Tribunal in another attempt to overturn or reduce the punishment.
However, the latest rejection leaves Madrid facing the prospect of visiting Camp Nou on October 25 without one of their most influential attacking players.
The timing could hardly be worse for Jose Mourinho’s side, with the first Clasico representing an important early examination of their title ambitions.
Vinicius has endured a difficult start to the campaign, registering just one goal and three assists across his opening ten appearances.
His performances have also attracted criticism from sections of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd.
Nevertheless, his pace, movement and ability to unsettle defenders remain valuable weapons, particularly against opponents of Barcelona’s quality.
Madrid demonstrated their attacking depth during Wednesday’s dramatic 4-3 Champions League victory over Roma, although Vinicius was substituted after an hour.
His replacement, Endrick, subsequently made an important contribution, strengthening his case for increased involvement.
While Mourinho has alternatives, replacing Vinicius’s individual threat in such a demanding fixture will not be straightforward.
The Brazilian must also accept responsibility for an avoidable situation that has potentially weakened his team during a crucial period.
Whatever the circumstances surrounding the original confrontation, his reaction towards the referee compounded the consequences of his dismissal.
Madrid are entitled to pursue every available appeal, but their preparations cannot depend on the suspension being overturned.
With Barcelona approaching, Mourinho’s priority must be identifying a reliable attacking solution rather than waiting for another disciplinary decision.
Vinicius’s absence would be a significant setback, but it also presents an opportunity for Madrid’s other forwards to demonstrate their importance.