Vinicius apologises after VAR red card in Madrid’s Villarreal win

Vinicius Junior apologised after a VAR review overturned his goal and led to a red card, with his Barcelona availability awaiting discipline.

VAR turns a goal into a dismissal

Vinicius Junior apologised after being sent off in Real Madrid’s 1-0 league win over Villarreal on Saturday, October 10. Reports published by The Indian Express and The Times of India described a hair-pulling incident involving Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba that was reviewed by VAR. Vinicius had appeared to give Madrid a second goal, prompting celebrations, but the review overturned that goal and led to a straight red card. Madrid finished the match protecting a one-goal advantage with ten players.

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Apology follows a turbulent substitute appearance

The Indian Express reported that Vinicius entered the game in the second half before Yan Diamonde scored Madrid’s winner. It described the forward reacting angrily to the referee’s decision before teammates intervened. The same report said manager Jose Mourinho cancelled his scheduled post-match press conference. Vinicius later addressed his teammates and supporters on Instagram with an apology. The Times of India also reported that apology, placing it after the dismissal and the cancellation of his apparent goal. Mourinho had joined his players’ celebrations before the VAR intervention reversed the apparent second goal.

Barcelona availability awaits a disciplinary decision

The immediate uncertainty concerns how many league games Vinicius will miss. The Times of India identified Barcelona’s October 25 fixture as potentially affected, with Sevilla coming first in Madrid’s league schedule. The Indian Express likewise said that any additional disciplinary sanction could extend his absence to the Barcelona match. Neither report confirmed a final ruling that he would miss El Clasico. His availability for that fixture therefore remains a matter for the disciplinary process rather than a settled consequence of Saturday’s red card.