Vinicius Jr red‑carded for hair pull as Mourinho skips post‑match press conference

Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr received a straight red card for hair‑pulling, prompting Mourinho to forgo the usual post‑match briefing and leaving his future for the upcoming El Clásico uncertain.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 11 Oct 2026 15:52:25 GMT

Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior was shown a straight red card for pulling the hair of Villarreal defender Nathan Saliba during a La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, according to both the Independent and Al Jazeera.

What happened

Vinicius entered the game in the 52nd minute and scored a goal that was later disallowed after a VAR review. The review also revealed that he had pulled Saliba’s hair while both players were sprinting down the field. Referee Isidro Diaz de Mera then issued a straight red card, reducing Real Madrid to ten men from the 73rd minute. The Brazilian shouted at the referee as his teammates attempted to calm him.

What the reports add

The Independent noted that Mourinho ran to join the celebrations before the dismissal and then skipped the customary post‑match press conference, reportedly fearing a possible suspension for commenting on the incident. Al Jazeera added that Vinicius posted an apology to teammates and fans on social media, but did not apologise to Saliba. Both outlets reported that the red card could see Vinicius miss the upcoming El Clásico against Barcelona, pending a disciplinary committee ruling.

What was said

Vinicius wrote on Instagram, “Sorry to the team and the fans,” as reported by the Independent. Al Jazeera quoted the same apology wording from his social‑media post. The Independent also said Mourinho was “furious” by the decision, while Al Jazeera described him as “livid” when Vinicius was sent off.

How it came about

Real Madrid’s recent fixtures have been marked by disciplinary issues, including a red card to Dean Huijsen in a September 20 derby against Atlético Madrid (Felo coverage). The club’s squad list for the Villarreal match included midfielder Federico Valverde despite a recent ankle sprain (Felo coverage), highlighting the team’s injury challenges ahead of the crucial Barcelona clash.

Key facts

Vinicius Jr was sent off for pulling Nathan Saliba's hair (independent.co.uk)
Referee Isidro Diaz de Mera issued a straight red card in the 73rd minute (aljazeera.com)
Mourinho skipped the post‑match press conference (independent.co.uk)
Vinicius posted an apology to teammates and fans on Instagram (aljazeera.com)
The disciplinary committee may rule him out of the upcoming El Clásico (aljazeera.com)