Vinícius Júnior says referees are targeting him, arguing that officials punish his reactions while allowing defenders to foul him throughout matches. The Real Madrid forward spoke after Wednesday’s dramatic 4-3 Champions League victory at Roma, where his team recovered from a 3-1 deficit.
His comments came only hours after the Spanish league handed him a four-match suspension for pulling an opponent’s hair and protesting against the referee. Vinícius accepted that his form has dipped, but insisted both his goals and confidence will return.
Why did Vinícius receive a four-match ban?
Vinícius disputed the severity of the punishment, saying he could not remember another player receiving a four-game suspension for a comparable incident.
“I tried to move the player in front of me out of the way and I ended up getting caught in his hair,” he said. “That was it, a red card, which is why I was so surprised.”
The Brazil international also denied insulting the official, arguing that nothing he said justified the additional sanction.
“I didn’t say a single offensive word to the referee that would warrant a four-match ban. But when it comes to Vini, it’s all too easy,” he said.
Vinícius acknowledged that opposing teams, supporters and sections of the media would consider the punishment deserved. Even so, he believes his reputation influences how incidents involving him are judged. In other words, his disciplinary record now appears to arrive at the stadium before he does.
The forward said he would continue working on his conduct and performances, adding that he knows how far he has come and what he can still achieve.
Which players does he want referees to protect?
Vinícius said he understands why rival supporters jeer him because his job is to score against their teams. His problem is with officials, particularly when repeated fouls against attacking players go largely unpunished.
He cited statistics showing that opponents have committed 500 fouls against him, with those challenges producing only five red cards. According to Vinícius, yellow cards are more likely to be shown to him and other attackers after they react.
“Defenders are allowed to foul me the entire match but in the end it’s me who gets the card,” he said.
The 26-year-old called for greater protection for players who offer something different in attack. He specifically named:
- Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal
- Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez
- Himself
“We need to protect the players who bring something different to the game,” Vinícius said.
Real Madrid coach José Mourinho also criticised the handling of the suspension, focusing on when the club learned about it. The decision reached the team roughly two hours before kickoff in Rome, while the squad was travelling to the stadium.
“Do you think it’s normal for a player from a Spanish team, preparing for an important match that’s also crucial for Spanish football, to find out about his four-match suspension just two hours before kickoff?” Mourinho said. He added that officials had “started doing things without any shame.”
How serious is Vinícius Júnior’s loss of form?
Vinícius has not scored for Real Madrid since August and has managed only two goals for club and country this season. One came in Madrid’s second league game, while the other arrived for Brazil in a September friendly against Australia.
Against Roma, Mourinho replaced him in the 59th minute with Madrid trailing. Vinícius admitted he was frustrated by the decision but said that reaction was natural for a player who wants to remain on the pitch.
“I know I’m not at my peak right now, but I’ve been through worse,” he said. “Even when people have doubted me, I’ve always stood up for this club. That’s why I signed a six-year contract extension.”
He expressed complete confidence that his better form would return, along with the goals. Vinícius also rejected any suggestion that the substitution pointed to a problem with Mourinho, describing their relationship as strong and the coach as consistently direct with him.
“Of course I got a little annoyed when I came off today, but that’s normal,” he said. “In the end he was right, the team improved and that’s what matters most.”
The evidence was inconveniently supportive of Mourinho’s call.
How did Real Madrid complete the comeback in Rome?
Endrick, who replaced Vinícius, scored the equaliser in the 85th minute. Antonio Rüdiger then completed the turnaround with Madrid’s winner in the 90th, sealing a 4-3 victory after the visitors had fallen 3-1 behind.
Vinícius praised Madrid’s younger players for changing the match and described Endrick’s performance as “incredible.” The substitute was named man of the match after scoring and helping transform the contest.
“This is Real Madrid,” Vinícius said. “We needed a match like this to shift the dynamic and turn the season around a bit.”
The comeback offered Madrid a welcome lift, but Vinícius will now disappear from domestic action for four games. His suspension rules him out of:
- Sunday’s home match against Sevilla
- The following week’s El Clásico away to Barcelona
- The trip to Racing Santander
- The away match at Valencia
Madrid must therefore try to build on its European escape without one of its most prominent attackers. Vinícius, meanwhile, will have several weeks to work on his form, his reactions and, apparently, his ability to avoid other people’s hair.
