FURIOUS Jose Mourinho snubbed Real Madrid’s post-match press conference as he feared that Vinicius Junior would be banned for El Clasico.
Referee in the 72nd minute of their 1-0 win after the 26-year-old pulled the hair of Villarreal‘s Nathan Saliba.
looked to have doubled their lead after Yan Diomande’s opener, instead the goal was overturned and he may be given a multi-match ban.
Mourinho had already sprinted onto the pitch to celebrate the second goal before it was disallowed – and his reaction to the decision has been explosive.
And instead of his usual media duties, it was decided that the boss would skip it all.
For the time being, Vinicius, who has apologised to his team-mates, will continue to be suspended for their next game against – but the following game is against on October 25.
Due to the significance of the rivalry between the two Spanish teams, it is usually all hands on deck.
But if Vinicius is forced to stay away, may see a real advantage.
Barca currently sit five points clear of at the top of the table, with Real one point behind them in third.
Though, fans will have to wait for the verdict from the committee before panicking with a possible, though unlikely, one-match ban on the cards.
Players will receive a one-match ban when they deny an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
Meanwhile, a two or three-match ban arrives when there is no genuine attempt to play the ball, moderate dissent, or unsportsmanlike gestures.
And this distinction will be made from the referee’s official post-match report.
In his match report, Diaz de Mera wrote that Vinicius had been sent off “for pulling an opponent’s hair while the ball was in play, even though the ball was not in dispute between them”.
But given that Vinicius was noted as off the ball, it seems likely that he will be forced to sit out of what would have been his 25th El Clasico.
In a bizarre turn, the Rio-born star has been in a similar situation before following a league incident versus Valencia.
Goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski looked to have in January last year.
But the 2024 Ballon d’Or runner-up blew a fuse and pushed the keeper, seeing himself get a straight red card.
