Real Madrid virtuoso winger, Vinicius Junior was shown his first La Liga red card for slapping Valencia’s Hugo Duro during a match last night.
Vinicius was in possession of the ball and dribbling down Real Madrid’s left flank when another ball was tossed onto the pitch by spectators.
Whether on purpose or not, Valencia defender Eray Comert attempted to kick that ball off and did so directly toward Vinicius, striking the second ball at the forward’s feet.
The result was a yellow card for Comert and a free kick for Madrid, but it didn’t end there.
As Madrid prepared to take the set piece, Vinicius began pointing animatedly at a fan in the crowd behind the goal. It was obvious that something had been said.
After lengthy deliberations with his teammates and the referee, Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea, who questioned Vinicius about wanting play to be stopped and warned the crowd about racial slurs over the stadium megaphone, after which the game resumed.
Later, in time added on, a mass brawl in the Valencia box ended with Vinicius being sent off following a red card for slapping Valencia’s Hugo Duro.
There was then a further confrontation with the Valencia bench on Vinicius’ way off the pitch.
Real Madrid eventually lost the match 1-0 to Valencia.
Vinicius has been subjected to racist abuse on an alarmingly regular basis in the 2022-23 campaign, with eight complaints already filed by La Liga.
