Vinicius Junior was sent off in the second half of Real Madrid’s La Liga fixture against Valencia after an off-the-ball push on opposition goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
After being shown a red card in the 79th-minute following a pitch-side review of the incident, the 24-year-old then appeared to raise his arm towards referee Cesar Soto Grado but was restrained by some of his team-mates and members of Madrid’s staff.
Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said at full time the club intend to appeal the decision.
Vinicius Jr was targeted with numerous chants by the home supporters at the Mestalla, who shouted “Vinicius, beach ball” or “fool”.
In his final act of the game, the forward had an effort on goal blocked by defender Dimitri Foulquier, before pushing Dimitrievski directly in the face. The Valencia goalkeeper fell to the floor clutching his face.
(Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
He later took to social media to apologise, writing on X shortly after full time: “Sorry and thank you team.”
“We are going to appeal Vini’s red card,” Ancelotti said during his post-match press conference.
It is the second time in his career Vinicius Jr has been sent off at Valencia’s Mestalla. In May 2023, he was the victim of mass racist abuse at the same stadium. Vinicius Jr was sent off in stoppage time following a melee, but this was subsequently rescinded after a review from the Spanish Football Federation’s Competition Committee.
Madrid came from a goal down to beat Valencia 2-1 on Friday thanks to Jude Bellingham’s 95th-minute winner.
(Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
