Vinicius’ camp accepts Villarreal red card but questions refereeing consistency: ‘They forgot the rule against Valencia’

Vinicius’ camp accepts Villarreal red card but questions refereeing consistency: ‘They forgot the rule against Valencia’ Real Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Villarreal, but the refereeing has once again overshadowed the sporting performance on the night. Jose Mourinho started the game without Vinicius Jr., who had taken a gruelling trip to Australia and India during the international break. He came on in the second half but was sent off just minutes later after grabbing Nathan Saliba’s hair in the build-up to a goal that was ruled out. According to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic , the Brazilian’s representatives have accepted that the Real Madrid winger deserved his red card against Villarreal. Vinicius camp points to Valencia incident However, they are also questioning why a similar incident involving the Brazilian at Valencia in 2025 was treated differently. A source close to Vinicius defended the decision to dismiss him while highlighting what they consider inconsistent refereeing standards. “The red card is fair, but they forgot the rule against Valencia,” the source said. Vinicius acted out after being shown a red card against Villarreal. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) In the aftermath of the incident last night, Vinicius reacted angrily and had to be restrained by teammates. His representatives subsequently recalled a January 2025 match against Valencia, when goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski appeared to pull Vinicius by his hair. On that occasion, Vinicius was sent off for pushing the goalkeeper. Real Madrid and Vinicius’ camp seem to be fed up with the double standards in the decision-making. Brazilian apologises after Villarreal victory Vinicius later acknowledged his mistake on Instagram . “The joy continues. My apologies to my team and the fans,” he wrote. However, he also reshared a story highlighting decisions that have gone against him in recent times, underlining his frustration. His dismissal overshadowed an otherwise important victory, secured through Yan Diomande’s first goal for the club. Despite the victory, Real Madrid remain six points behind Barcelona and will now have to spend at least the next couple of games without Vinicius. Mourinho must address Real Madrid’s growing frustration Mourinho received a yellow card against Villarreal after protesting refereeing decisions, while sections of the Bernabeu crowd directed hostile chants towards officials. Mourinho was visibly frustrated on the touchline against Villarreal. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) He then refused to appear for the customary press conference after the game, fearing that his comments could earn him a suspension from the Sevilla and Barcelona games. Consistency in refereeing is a legitimate concern, but it cannot become an excuse to justify Vinicius’ antics against Villarreal. He has now left his team in a difficult spot, with the club having to cope without him for a game as big as El Clasico . In his absence, Diomande did his cause no harm last night and could become a starter under Mourinho for the next few games. It remains to be seen whether Vinicius learns from this incident and channels his frustration in a better manner on the pitch in the coming months.