Vinicius Junior reignites debate over Espanyol challenge with sarcastic social media post

Vinicius Junior has mocked the officials after a controversial incident involving Espanyol defender Cala during Real Madrid’s opening La Liga fixture, in which the Brazilian was kicked from behind without the opposing player receiving a card.

The incident quickly became one of the main talking points from the match after Cala appeared to strike Vinicius Junior while the Real Madrid forward was on the ground. The referee awarded a foul to Vinicius Junior but decided against showing Cala a yellow card.

Video assistant referee officials also chose not to intervene, judging that the incident did not warrant a review. The decision angered Real Madrid’s players and substitutes, who believed the challenge should have resulted in a booking.

Vinicius Junior reacted immediately after the kick, getting to his feet and confronting his opponent. A brief confrontation then developed between several players, although the dispute did not escalate into a more serious incident and no further consequences followed.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the episode placed Vinicius Junior at the centre of debate during Real Madrid’s first league outing. The lack of disciplinary action prompted protests from members of the Real Madrid bench as well as those on the pitch.

The controversy continued after the final whistle when DAZN published footage of the incident on its social media accounts. Vinicius Junior responded by resharing the video and adding a sarcastic message that reflected his view of the decision.

“A yellow card for Vini!” he wrote.

The post was a clear reference to the fact that he believed Cala should have been cautioned for the kick. By reposting the clip, Vinicius Junior drew further attention to an incident that had already caused frustration within the Real Madrid camp.

The referee’s decision remained unchanged: a foul was awarded in favour of Vinicius Junior, but no yellow card was issued to Cala, and the VAR team did not recommend a review.

The clash also led to a short on-field exchange between the two players, with Vinicius Junior rising to challenge Cala after being kicked from behind. Team-mates then became involved before the situation was brought under control.

The episode has therefore remained a subject of discussion beyond the match itself, with the footage shared by DAZN providing the focus for the Brazilian’s social media response. His brief comment expressed his belief that the punishment given during the game did not reflect the seriousness of the challenge.