Once again, Vinicius Junior is at the heart of a controversy in La Liga. If Real Madrid won, in pain, Friday evening at Mestalla against Valencia (1-2) in a late match of the 12th day of the Spanish championship, its Brazilian star was a little distraught. Thinking he would benefit from a penalty after contact with Stole Dimitrievski, the opposing goalkeeper, the second in the 2024 Ballon d'or standings lost his nerve following a small tap received on the back of the head from his opponent. Mad with rage, “Vini” got up and responded by pushing the last Valencian rampart in the face.
After consulting the images, Cesar Soto Grado, the referee of the match, decided to exclude the Madrid twirler. In total disagreement with the decision of the refereeing body, the latter protested strongly, before being forcefully escorted back to the locker room first by Antonio Rüdiger, then by one of Carlo Ancelotti's assistants.
Trailing ten minutes from the end of the game, Real finally turned the tables thanks to goals from Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham. Which did not prevent the Italian technician from returning to the Vinicius subject at a press conference. “We will appeal and file an appeal but I don’t know if it will be accepted,” Ancelotti told the media. We think there was no red. It could have been resolved with a yellow card on each side. Vini suffered, there are days when he is good and others where he is a little less so, I hope he can participate in the next match,” added “the Mister”.
For his part, Vinicius presented a timid apology on social networks. “Sorry and thanks to the team,” the left winger wrote on his X account shortly after the final whistle.
