Red card, suspension and a conspiracy – what’s up with Vini Jr?

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior received a four-match suspension from the Spanish football federation following a red card against Villarreal. The ban rules the Brazilian out of El Clasico against Barcelona alongside fixtures against Sevilla, Racing Santander, and Valencia. Vinicius was dismissed after a VAR review showed him pulling Nathan Saliba's hair, and he received additional matches for his subsequent protests to the referee.

The disciplinary sanction comes during a tumultuous period for Vinicius, marked by stalled contract negotiations, fan whistles, and internet conspiracy theories following cosmetic surgery. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho criticised the timing of the suspension announcement, which arrived just two hours before their 4-3 Champions League victory over Roma.