Vinicius says he’s being targeted by referees, wants more protection for players

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior stated he is being unfairly targeted by match officials and called for referees to provide greater protection to attacking players. His comments came after Real Madrid's 4-3 UEFA Champions League victory against AS Roma on Wednesday. Vinicius highlighted players like Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez as talents who deserve better protection from persistent fouls.

The forward spoke shortly after receiving a four-match LaLiga suspension for pulling an opponent's hair and protesting a refereeing decision. Vinicius contested the severity of the sanction, claiming he did not use offensive language toward the official. He also acknowledged a current slump in his performances but expressed confidence that he will soon return to top form.