VAR review: Why Vinicius Jr’s goal ruled out and red card shown for off-the-ball hair pull

According to a report by YEN on Saturday, Oct 10, 2026, Vinicius Jr had a goal ruled out and was shown a red card in the same passage of play during Real Madrid’s La Liga clash with Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, October 10.

The Brazilian winger came off the bench in the 52nd minute, replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold. He then finished off a pass from Jude Bellingham in what looked set to be Real Madrid’s second goal of the evening.

The celebrations were short-lived. The referee was advised to check the pitchside monitor, and a VAR review followed. The footage showed Vinicius pulling a Villarreal player’s hair away from the ball before he completed his run and scored.

The goal was disallowed, and the 26-year-old was sent off for violent conduct. Under the Laws of the Game, violent conduct away from the ball can warrant a straight red card where a player uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent.

According to talkSPORT, Vinicius and several teammates protested immediately and were visibly frustrated by the outcome of the review.

The dismissal comes at an uncomfortable moment for the forward. José Mourinho had left him out of the starting lineup because of concerns about his recent form. The manager had, however, defended him publicly beforehand, urging Madrid supporters to stay behind the player through a difficult period.

The red card adds to a turbulent stretch for Vinicius this season, with Real Madrid still managing his role in a competitive La Liga campaign. Earlier in the campaign, he missed the pre-season friendly against Fiorentina in Austria because of an extended off-season break, with no fitness concerns reported.

Bosslady feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com