“Why announce it two hours before an important match?” — Mourinho reacts to Vinicius suspension

According to a report by Madrid Universal on Wednesday October 14, 2026, Jose Mourinho has questioned the timing of the announcement of Vinicius Junior’s four-match suspension, expressing frustration that the decision was revealed just two hours before Real Madrid’s important UEFA Champions League clash against AS Roma.

The Brazilian forward was reportedly handed a four-match ban following his red card against Villarreal, leaving Real Madrid facing the prospect of playing several important fixtures without one of their most influential attacking players.

Speaking to Movistar+ before the encounter with Roma, Mourinho was asked whether the suspension could have a psychological impact on Vinicius. However, the Portuguese coach shifted his attention towards the Spanish football authorities, questioning why they chose to announce the punishment so close to kick-off.

“I think that is a question for the Committee. Why have they announced the suspension at this particular moment? If you are asking me this question, it is presumably because you think it could affect him,” Mourinho said.

The Real Madrid manager went on to suggest that the announcement could have been made earlier, avoiding unnecessary distractions ahead of a crucial European fixture.

“You should ask the Committee why they did not announce it this morning, or tomorrow morning. Why do they do it two hours before a match that is important for Real Madrid, which is a Spanish club?” he added.

Mourinho’s comments highlighted his concerns about the timing of the decision, particularly given the importance of the Champions League encounter and the potential effect such news could have on a player preparing for a major match.

According to the report, Vinicius is set to miss Real Madrid’s upcoming fixtures against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia as a result of the suspension. His reported absence from the meeting with Barcelona would be a significant setback for the Spanish giants, given his attacking quality and ability to influence high-pressure matches.

The situation could also force Mourinho to reconsider his attacking options and find alternative ways to maintain Real Madrid’s threat in the final third during the Brazilian’s absence.

Despite the controversy surrounding the suspension announcement, Mourinho also discussed his tactical preparations for the Roma match, explaining that he wanted to prevent the Italian side from pressing his team too aggressively.

The Portuguese coach acknowledged Roma’s strength in applying man-to-man pressure high up the pitch and indicated that Real Madrid would look to exploit any opportunities created by that approach.

Mourinho also explained his decision to select Antonio Rudiger alongside Ibrahima Konate in central defence rather than Dean Huijsen. He pointed to Rudiger’s experience and the partnership’s previous performance, arguing that those qualities could prove important in a difficult atmosphere.

However, it was the timing of Vinicius’ suspension that dominated Mourinho’s pre-match comments. Rather than focusing solely on the punishment itself, the Real Madrid manager questioned why the announcement had come so close to kick-off, raising concerns about the potential disruption ahead of a crucial fixture.

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