The match referee Soto Grado’s report concerning Vinicius Jr.’s red card during the recent game against Valencia has been publicly disclosed.
The decision to expel the Real Madrid forward was made following a warning from match official Muniz Ruiz. In the official report, the referee cited that Vinicius was sent off for intentionally striking an opponent in the head with significant force while the ball was not in play. This act of aggression prompted immediate disciplinary action.
Potential Sanctions and Consequences
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Disciplinary Committee now holds the responsibility of determining the extent of Vinicius’ punishment. If they classify his action as an act of aggression, which appears likely based on the report, he could face a minimum suspension of four matches.
This decision would fall under the guidelines of Article 103 of the disciplinary code, which addresses cases of aggression. According to this article, an assault—even if it does not cause physical injury—can result in a suspension ranging from four to twelve matches.
Such a ruling would apply if the incident occurred when the ball was out of play or far from the central action on the pitch, thereby making it difficult for officials to intervene immediately. If the Disciplinary Committee enforces this sanction, Vinicius would miss several critical games.
These include the upcoming Copa del Rey match, both legs of the Super Cup semifinals against Mallorca, and potentially the final if Real Madrid advances. Furthermore, he could be unavailable for the Copa del Rey round of 16 and possibly the January 19 La Liga clash against Las Palmas.
Alternative Outcomes
There is also the possibility that the disciplinary panel might view Vinicius’ behavior as a breach of good sporting conduct. In such a case, the suspension could range from four to ten matches, coupled with a monetary fine between €602 and €3,006.
The severity of this penalty would depend on how the committee interprets the seriousness of his actions.
If the committee deems the incident an instance of in-game violence, as outlined in Article 130, a more lenient punishment could be imposed. Under this scenario, Vinicius might face a suspension of up to three matches, limited to La Liga fixtures.
This outcome would allow him to return in time for Real Madrid’s important matches, including those against Las Palmas, Valladolid, and possibly Espanyol.
The Disciplinary Committee’s decision will be pivotal, as it will determine the number of matches Vinicius is sidelined and his availability for key fixtures across all competitions.
