For a while now, Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior has been in the eye of the hurricane that is Spanish soccer. First, it was his daring dribbling and critical goals; this time, an unjust two-match suspension by the Competition Committee of the Royal Spanish Soccer Federation (RFEF). It was a clash between Valencia and Real Madrid when this incident with Vinicius happened, where the talented footballer had an argument with the goalkeeper Dimitrievski.
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Penalty and Context of the Infraction
At the 32nd minute of the second half, with Real Madrid trailing on the scoreboard, tensions escalated at Mestalla Stadium. Vinicius and Dimitrievski clashed in the penalty area. After alleged provocations from the goalkeeper — including touches on Vinicius’s back and hair — the forward retaliated with a shove that struck Dimitrievski’s face. The VAR intervened, and referee Cesar Soto Grado, being warned by the assistant, gave a yellow for Dimitrievski and sent Vinicius off.
The Competition Committee considered Vinicius's moves to be "sporting violence," under Article 130 of the RFEF Disciplinary Code, for which it punished him with a two-match ban. Initially, the Brazilian could have received a ban of up to 12 games, but the referee's report, which did not refer to the action as "aggression", led to a lighter punishment.
Even so, Real Madrid is not satisfied and will appeal to the sentence, since, according to the newspaper Marca, it understands that the provocations by Dimitrievski were not taken into consideration. In this way, the complicated case opens to whether Vinicius's response was disproportionate or if the circumstances were being ignored.
A controversial decision
To many, the two-game ban seems disproportionate for the situation. Nobody can say that Vini Jr didn't react, but one thing is unmistakable: this was a very provoked confrontation initiated by Dimitrievski. If anything, it highlights an eternal problem in soccer where punishments are disproportionately given out. He who started received a yellow, and he who responded met the full wrath of the referee.
This is not the first time, either. The same or similar cases, in particular, have marked a reprehensible trend: biased interpretations against Vini Jr. Whether because of racism or provocations on the field of play, this forward is the target of controversy under the spotlights.
Racism in Spanish football: an intolerable pattern
This match is full of connotations, considering Vini suffered from racist chants at the same Mestalla Stadium back in May 2023, an incident which raised global condemnation. The banners and provocations by Valencia fans during the match were indications that the hostility toward the Brazilian goes beyond the game itself.
This does not justify Vinicius's reaction, but it gives a context that cannot be disregarded. The RFEF and La Liga should take a closer look at this continued hostility toward the player. Looking the other way from the racial and emotional layers of these incidents only prolongs a setting that normalizes provocations and uneven punishments.
Sporting impact and a strategic break
The confirmation of suspension will see Vinicius miss games against Las Palmas and Valladolid but be available for the Spanish Supercopa, where Real Madrid faces Mallorca in the semifinals. Though he is somewhat of a setback to the team in coming games, this break might prove to be a strategic advantage. The forward is back in focus after an exhausting season on and off the pitch for a very critical tournament.