Real Madrid question VAR consistency after Vinicius Junior red card

Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Villarreal was overshadowed by Vinicius Junior’s sending-off, with the club’s official television channel questioning the consistency of refereeing standards in Spain and raising concerns that the Brazil forward could miss the next Clasico.

Real Madrid struggled to break down a well-organised Villarreal defence in the eighth round of La Liga, despite chances created by Kylian Mbappe. They eventually found a way through in the 60th minute when Federico Valverde set up Yan Diomande, whose precise low shot found the net.

The goal was Diomande’s first for Real Madrid and moved the club to within one point of Atletico Madrid.

However, the home side’s celebrations were cut short when a second goal was ruled out. Vinicius appeared to finish a counter-attack led by Jude Bellingham, but the Video Assistant Referee reviewed the incident and identified what it considered deliberate hair-pulling by the Brazilian on Nathan Saliba during the move.

The referee cancelled the goal and showed Vinicius a red card, leaving Real Madrid to play the closing stages with 10 men. Tensions rose further when the forward appeared close to confronting referee Isidoro Diaz de Mera before Antonio Rudiger intervened.

The decision prompted strong criticism from within Real Madrid. The club’s television channel questioned why VAR had intervened in the incident involving Vinicius, while other challenges it described as serious had not been reviewed.

Among the incidents cited were Lee Kang-in’s challenge on Federico Valverde and an occasion when Dean Huijsen was struck by an elbow. The channel asked why the video technology had been used in one situation but appeared to remain silent in others.

Aurelien Tchouameni also expressed his frustration after the final whistle, saying: “I don’t understand what is happening with the referees and this red card.”

Jose Mourinho was visibly angered by the officiating throughout the match. Spanish media reports said the Real Madrid manager chose not to attend the post-match news conference because he feared being given a lengthy suspension for his comments.

The episode comes at a difficult moment for Real Madrid, who are preparing for a demanding European meeting with Roma. The French outlet Foot Mercato reported that the decision and its aftermath had added to the tense atmosphere around the team.

Vinicius is already experiencing an unsettled start to the season, and the dismissal could bring another setback. The length of his suspension will determine whether he is available for the Clasico against Barcelona in two weeks.

Although Mourinho celebrated Diomande’s goal with his players, the main focus by the end of the evening had shifted to the Vinicius controversy and the possibility that its consequences could extend to one of the most important matches of the campaign.