Vinicius Junior has come under another brutal attack following his red card against Villarreal, with Spanish journalist Ruben Canizares questioning his knowledge of football’s rules and calling his behaviour “stupid.”
Vinicius branded ‘stupid’ and accused of not knowing football rules after red card
Vinicius Junior has faced fresh criticism following his controversial red card against Villarreal, with a Spanish journalist describing his behaviour as “stupid” and accusing him of not knowing the rules.
The Real Madrid forward was sent off during his side’s 1-0 LaLiga victory after appearing to score what would have been a second goal.
However, VAR spotted Vinicius pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair earlier in the attacking move.
The goal was cancelled and Vinicius was shown a direct red card for violent conduct.
Vinicius receives brutal criticism
Spanish journalist Ruben Canizares strongly criticised the Brazilian while discussing the incident on COPE programme Tiempo de Juego.
“Vinicius doesn’t know the laws of the game. He ruined a brilliant attack that ended in a goal,” Canizares said.
He then went even further.
“His behaviour was stupid. He should have been smarter, because the match would have been settled at that moment.”
The comments have added more pressure on Vinicius following one of Real Madrid’s most controversial moments of the season.
A costly and avoidable mistake
The frustration comes from how unnecessary the incident appeared to be.
Real Madrid had completed a dangerous attack and Vinicius put the ball into the net, but VAR asked referee Isidro Diaz de Mera to review the earlier incident.
After watching the replay, the referee cancelled the goal and sent Vinicius off.
Instead of leading 2-0, Real Madrid had to defend a 1-0 advantage with ten men.
Referee report creates more trouble
Vinicius could also face questions over his reaction after being dismissed.
The official referee report stated that he continued protesting loudly and approached the referee in a manner described as aggressive.
His teammates reportedly had to hold him back.
This could become important when disciplinary authorities decide the length of his suspension.
Possible suspension ahead of El Clasico
Violent conduct can result in a multi-game ban under Spanish regulations.
Authorities may also consider Vinicius’ reaction towards the referee when deciding his punishment.
However, the final suspension has not yet been officially confirmed.
Real Madrid will be particularly concerned because El Clasico against Barcelona is scheduled for October 25.
Vinicius apologises
Vinicius has already apologised publicly for the incident.
The Brazilian admitted he made a mistake and said sorry to his teammates and Real Madrid supporters.
But his apology has not stopped criticism, with many questioning why an experienced player would risk a red card in such an unnecessary situation.
Another discipline debate
The incident has restarted debate about Vinicius’ ability to control his emotions during difficult moments.
His footballing quality remains clear, but critics believe unnecessary confrontations continue to hurt both the player and his team.
Against Villarreal, an attack that should have ended with a goal instead finished with Vinicius leaving the pitch.
Pressure grows before final decision
Real Madrid eventually protected their 1-0 victory, meaning the red card did not cost them points.
But the consequences could continue beyond the match.
If Vinicius receives a heavy suspension, one moment of frustration could become much more costly than the red card itself.
