‘They Forgot’—Vinicius Jr’s Contrasting Public, Private Response to Real Madrid Red Card

Vinícius Júnior (second from right) did not initially accept his red card well. | Diego Souto/Getty ImagesVinícius Júnior offered a public apology after he was sent off for pulling the hair of Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba during Real Madrid’s hotly controversial 1–0 win on Saturday night. However, the Brazilian’s camp reportedly questioned the consistency of La Liga’s referees in a response with a different tone.

Vinícius Júnior offered a public apology after he was sent off for pulling the hair of Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba during Real Madrid’s hotly controversial 1–0 win on Saturday night. However, the Brazilian’s camp reportedly questioned the consistency of La Liga’s referees in a response with a different tone.

It was quite the two minutes for Madrid’s No. 7. With the hosts already in front thanks to Yan Diomande’s crisp swipe into the bottom corner, Vinícius Jr thought he had doubled their lead and broken his seven-game goal drought. Wild celebrations ensued, with José Mourinho awkwardly making his way across the pitch, half-running, half-jogging with all the commitment of a commuter vaguely embarrassed to be running after their bus.

It was quite the two minutes for Madrid’s No. 7. With the hosts already in front thanks to Yan Diomande’s crisp swipe into the bottom corner, Vinícius Jr thought he had doubled their lead and broken his seven-game goal drought. Wild celebrations ensued, with José Mourinho awkwardly making his way across the pitch, half-running, half-jogging with all the commitment of a commuter vaguely embarrassed to be running after their bus.

That scrum was soon broken up by referee Isidro Díaz Mera, who was directed to the touchline by the video assistant referee (VAR), Alejandro Muñiz, to take another look at the footage. Upon review, it was clear that Vinícius Jr had a handful of Saliba’s hair before darting past him to meeting Jude Bellingham’s deft cutback in the penalty box.

That scrum was soon broken up by referee Isidro Díaz Mera, who was directed to the touchline by the video assistant referee (VAR), Alejandro Muñiz, to take another look at the footage. Upon review, it was clear that Vinícius Jr had a handful of Saliba’s hair before darting past him to meeting Jude Bellingham’s deft cutback in the penalty box.

The goal was chalked off and, to the consternation of a boiling Bernabéu, Vinícius Jr was shown a straight red card.

The goal was chalked off and, to the consternation of a boiling Bernabéu, Vinícius Jr was shown a straight red card.

Madrid hung on to all three points across the final 20 minutes and Vinícius Jr saw the bright side on social media. “The joy continues,” he wrote on Instagram. “My apologies to my team and the fans.”

Madrid hung on to all three points across the final 20 minutes and Vinícius Jr saw the bright side on social media. “The joy continues,” he wrote on Instagram. “My apologies to my team and the fans.”

However, a separate response offered up by “a source close to” Vinícius Jr told The Athletic: “It [the red card] is fair, but they forgot the rule against Valencia.”

However, a separate response offered up by “a source close to” Vinícius Jr told The Athletic: “It [the red card] is fair, but they forgot the rule against Valencia.”

This is in reference to Real Madrid’s 2–1 win away to Valencia in January 2025. On that occasion, the hosts’ goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski appeared to pull the hair of Vinícius Jr, who reacted by shoving him to the ground. Madrid’s divisive forward was dismissed for violent conduct while Dimitrievski went curiously unpunished.

This is in reference to Real Madrid’s 2–1 win away to Valencia in January 2025. On that occasion, the hosts’ goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski appeared to pull the hair of Vinícius Jr, who reacted by shoving him to the ground. Madrid’s divisive forward was dismissed for violent conduct while Dimitrievski went curiously unpunished.

“It’s difficult being in his shoes,” Real Madrid’s manager at the time, Carlo Ancelotti, said of Vinícius Jr. “It’s not easy to endure everything he goes through, including the insults. It’s not simple, but he’s trying to improve. He’s upset about it and has apologized.”

“It’s difficult being in his shoes,” Real Madrid’s manager at the time, Carlo Ancelotti, said of Vinícius Jr. “It’s not easy to endure everything he goes through, including the insults. It’s not simple, but he’s trying to improve. He’s upset about it and has apologized.”

Vinícius Júnior (left) didn’t have much of a case. | ESPN UK/Disney+Hair pulling has become an oddly hot topic in recent years. Three players were sent off for the offense in the 2025–26 Premier League season alone, prompting England’s law makers to apply a more lenient approach when judging these tugs. Yet, given the force with which Vinícius Jr yanked Saliba’s mass of curls, he didn’t have much of a defense.

Hair pulling has become an oddly hot topic in recent years. Three players were sent off for the offense in the 2025–26 Premier League season alone, prompting England’s law makers to apply a more lenient approach when judging these tugs. Yet, given the force with which Vinícius Jr yanked Saliba’s mass of curls, he didn’t have much of a defense.

As per Law 12, hair pulling is considered violent conduct, which is described as “when a player uses or attempts to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball.” This results in a straight red card and, typically, a three-match ban.

As per Law 12, hair pulling is considered violent conduct, which is described as “when a player uses or attempts to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball.” This results in a straight red card and, typically, a three-match ban.

Considering Real Madrid face Barcelona in two weeks’ time, Vinícius Jr’s indiscretion could have serious repercussions.

Considering Real Madrid face Barcelona in two weeks’ time, Vinícius Jr’s indiscretion could have serious repercussions.

Published 6 minutes ago | Modified 6 minutes agoGREY WHITEBLOOMGrey Whitebloom is an Associate Editor for SI FC. He has more than half a decade of experience in sports media across all its various guises, from the fast-paced demands of news articles and match reports to in-depth research required for features. Whitebloom graduated with a First Class Honours from University College London and found himself named on the Dean’s List—which, despite his initial fears, was a form of praise rather than a punishment. He specialises in the Premier League and Champions League, while also boasting an extensive track record of La Liga coverage.