In matchday two of the UEFA Champions League league phase, Real Madrid mounted a 4-3 comeback victory away against AS Roma, with Vinicius Junior starting and featuring for 59 minutes before being substituted. Prior to this match, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) officially announced a four-match suspension for Vinicius. Speaking in the mixed zone after the final whistle, Vinicius addressed the red card for hair-pulling and the subsequent four-match ban.
Vinicius stated: “I don't recall any other player receiving a four-game ban for a situation like that. At that moment, I was simply trying to shake off the defender in front of me, and my hand ended up entangled in his hair. This rule itself is newly introduced, yet representatives from La Liga or the refereeing bodies usually come to Valdebebas [Real Madrid's training ground] to explain the rules to us, and they never once mentioned this modification.”
“Just like that, I was shown a straight red card. That's why I felt so astonished. I didn't direct any offensive words toward the referee, certainly nothing warranting a four-match suspension. But whenever it involves 'Vinicius,' everything seemingly becomes far too easy: rivals will claim the decision was correct, and the media will simply echo along.”
"I just want to understand—I genuinely want to understand—so that I can continue to grow and improve. Because I know where I come from, I know where I started, and I know what I am capable of achieving."
