It's not easy being Vinicius Junior. Those weren't my words; those of Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Real Madrid. Seriously, though, anyone would understand how one feels from merely following him through games: a creative hurricane on the field and targeted for racism off it. The most recent case? The one involving his sending off against Valencia this past Friday that raised more questions than certainty.
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Now, according to the Disciplinary Code of the Spanish Football Federation, a possible suspension would be from four to twelve matches. Real Madrid already feels it, losing such an important player while the forward will continue adding one more chapter to a brilliant, polemical story. The constant dilemma of being Vinicius Junior.
An opinion-divided red card
It all happened in the 77th minute: Real Madrid were losing 1-0 when Vini Jr. clashed with the goalkeeper, Dimitrievski. After an exchange of provocations, including a shove to the goalkeeper's face, the Brazilian saw the referee show him a straight red card, while Dimitrievski, who was already on a yellow, received only another yellow.
The decision brought about instant fury, and not just for the expulsion but also because of the context. Vinicius was accused in the referee's report of "deliberately striking an opponent's head, with no ball in play, using significant force." Yet, upon examination of the play, what's there to be seen is a reactive shove in the heat of clear provocation.
A reaction out of proportion? Likely not. But a foul worthy of a straight red card? That's an exaggeration. Ancelotti didn't mince words: "It wasn't a red card, it was a yellow. It's hard to be him and endure everything that happens, the insults." The coach's words brought out once again the sensation that Vinicius Jr. is often judged by different parameters.
Provocations, controversies and one question: who loses more?
The script was repeated. Vinicius provokes, gets provoked, reacts—and Real Madrid ends up losing out. The club runs the risk of missing him in important games because of suspension, like in the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercup. It also psychologically affects the player himself. He's sad, according to Ancelotti; he apologized and wants to learn his lesson. But how fair is it to demand more resilience from a player who is being targeted time and time again?
Undeniably, Vinicius has a "fiery" temperament: he lives for the spotlight, but that same spotlight then often invites trouble he can do without. That said, neither should it be ignored that this attitude very often is the result of what takes place around him-subtle provocations, tighter marking, inconsistent decisions; the list is endless.
A pattern of treatment?
The case of Vini Jr. opens a wider debate: is there a trend of different treatment for players like him? This isn't the first time the Brazilian has been at the center of controversies involving referees and exaggerated reactions.
What has happened in other matches is that, in similar situations, provocations against him were unpunished while his response was heavily penalized. This duality reveals a structural problem. The referees are there to handle the game and not to raise the level of conflict. And in this case, VAR, which should bring clarity, raised more questions. Why did Dimitriski, who initiated the confrontation, get only yellow? Why did the report exaggerate Vinicius's shove?
It appears that wherever Vinicius Jr. steps onto the field, a target is on his back. Be it for his strong personality or his impact on the game, he is treated differently. And this, in the long term, is not only harmful to him but also to the sport in general.
A lengthy suspension has its consequences
The punishment set by Article 103 of the Spanish Football Federation's Code could turn into a big problem for Real Madrid: at least four matches without Vini Jr., possibly up to twelve, including decisive games like the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercup.
The impact isn't only tactical. Vinicius is the main player of the world's most prominent soccer team. His absence means less shine, less entertainment, and, naturally, less commercial impact. For the player himself, a long suspension could be a hard blow to his confidence, something he's already struggling to maintain amidst so many controversies.