Vinicius Junior is facing fresh controversy after new footage appeared to show the Real Madrid star pushing a LaLiga employee while leaving the pitch following his red card against Villarreal.
New Footage Shows Vinicius in Another Ugly Moment After Villarreal Red Card
Vinicius Junior is facing another wave of criticism after new footage appeared to show the Real Madrid star pushing a LaLiga employee while leaving the pitch following his controversial red card against Villarreal.
The Brazilian had already become the centre of attention after being sent off for pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair.
But new video released after the match has now added another uncomfortable moment to the controversy.
The footage appears to show Vinicius turning towards a LaLiga employee near the VAR monitor and pushing him before continuing towards the tunnel.
New footage emerges after red card
The incident was not clearly shown during the original television broadcast.
However, new footage later published by Spanish media captured what happened as Vinicius left the pitch.
The LaLiga employee was reportedly working near the VAR equipment and was not involved in the decision to send Vinicius off.
Video appears to show the employee standing near the monitor before Vinicius turns back and pushes him.
The moment has quickly created another debate over the forward’s behaviour following his dismissal.
Employee had no role in VAR decision
One important detail is that the person involved was not the VAR referee.
Reports in Spain say he was a stadium technician responsible for helping make sure the VAR monitor and communication equipment worked correctly.
That means he had no power over the decision to cancel Vinicius’ goal or show him a red card.
This has made the incident even more controversial, with critics questioning why Vinicius directed his frustration towards someone not involved in the decision.
Vinicius had already lost control
The new footage comes after the referee’s official report described Vinicius’ angry reaction immediately following the red card.
According to the report, the Brazilian protested loudly and approached referee Isidro Diaz de Mera in what was described as an aggressive manner.
His teammates reportedly had to hold him back.
The newly released footage suggests Vinicius remained extremely frustrated even as he continued towards the tunnel.
How the controversy started
The drama began when Vinicius thought he had scored Real Madrid’s second goal against Villarreal.
However, VAR spotted an earlier incident involving Nathan Saliba.
Replays showed Vinicius pulling the Villarreal player’s hair away from the ball.
After reviewing the footage, the referee cancelled the goal and showed Vinicius a straight red card for violent conduct.
Real Madrid were then forced to finish the match with ten players.
Real Madrid survive with ten men
Despite the chaos, Real Madrid managed to protect their 1-0 lead until the final whistle.
But the victory was quickly overshadowed by Vinicius’ dismissal and the incidents that followed.
Instead of the result dominating the headlines, attention has focused on the Brazilian’s behaviour after the decision.
Could the push bring another punishment?
This is now one of the biggest questions surrounding the case.
Vinicius is already waiting to discover his punishment for the red card.
Violent conduct can lead to a multi-game suspension, while his reaction towards the referee could also be considered by disciplinary authorities.
However, there has not yet been official confirmation that the apparent push on the LaLiga employee will result in a separate punishment.
Spanish media are now waiting to see whether the new footage will be included in any further disciplinary review.
El Clasico concern grows
The timing is especially important for Real Madrid because El Clasico against Barcelona is approaching.
If Vinicius receives a heavy suspension, he could miss one of the biggest matches of the season.
The new footage has therefore added even more uncertainty around his availability.
For now, Real Madrid must wait for the final disciplinary decision.
Vinicius later apologises
After calming down, Vinicius reportedly apologised to his teammates in the dressing room.
He also publicly apologised to Real Madrid supporters and admitted that he had made a mistake.
However, the apology has not stopped criticism after the new video appeared.
What began with a hair-pulling incident has now developed into a much wider controversy about Vinicius’ behaviour after the red card.
Pressure increases on Vinicius
There is little doubt about Vinicius’ quality on the pitch.
But this incident has once again raised questions about his emotional control during high-pressure moments.
Critics argue that his reaction made an already serious situation even worse.
Now, with new footage appearing to show him pushing a LaLiga employee who had no role in the VAR decision, the pressure around the Real Madrid star has increased again.
Another controversy still developing
The final punishment for Vinicius has not yet been officially announced.
But the story is continuing to develop as more footage from the match becomes public.
Real Madrid may have won the game, but Vinicius’ actions after the red card could now become just as important as the original incident itself.
