How many games will Vinicius be suspended for after red card against Valencia?

The Brazilian struck Dimitrievski in the neck after reacting to an earlier incident from the Macedonian goalkeeper.

The sparks ignited into a full-blown fire in the 76th minute at Mestalla against Valencia. Vinícius Júnior, under relentless defensive pressure from Carlos Corberán’s Valencia, fell to his knees on the grass, appealing for a penalty to referee Soto Grado.

At that moment, Stole Dimitrievski, already on a yellow card, approached Vinícius from behind, disputing the penalty claim. Dimitrievski appeared to touch the Brazilian’s back and, seemingly, tugged lightly on his hair.

Reacting impulsively, Vinícius attempted to push Dimitrievski but inadvertently struck the Macedonian goalkeeper on the neck.

“That’s a red card because he hit him in the face. A push to the chest would warrant a yellow card unless it’s a punch, but the face is untouchable according to the rules,” explained Eduardo Iturralde González, a former international referee and analyst for AS on Cadena SER’s Carrusel Deportivo.

After reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor, Soto Grado showed Vinícius a straight red card, marking the Brazilian’s first dismissal in seven years of La Liga play. Upon seeing the card, Vinícius sprang up and charged toward the referee, requiring teammates Rüdiger and Ceballos to restrain him and escort him off the pitch amid heightened tension and emotion.

A suspension of two to four games looms

Vinícius now faces a potential suspension of up to four games, depending on the referee’s official report. If the incident is classified as aggression under Article 103 of the RFEF Disciplinary Code, the ban would extend to four matches, to be served consecutively.

This would include fixtures against Deportiva Minera (Monday, 7:00 p.m.), the two Spanish Super Cup games (beginning with the semi-final against Mallorca on Thursday at 8:00 p.m.), and the next Copa del Rey round, provided Real Madrid advances in both competitions.

“As a precedent, in a recent Leganés-Villarreal match, Óscar Rodríguez received a four-game ban for violent conduct in a situation where the game was stopped,” noted Iturralde. If the act is deemed less severe, the suspension would range between two and three games.

Vinícius’ First Red Card at the Top Level

This marks Vinícius’ first-ever red card in top-flight football. He previously received a red card during his brief stint with Real Madrid Castilla in a match against Celta B, where referee Alexander González penalised him for simulating a foul after he had already been booked.

Even before his move to Spain, Vinícius maintained a solid disciplined record during his 69 appearances with Flamengo, collecting nine yellow cards but no dismissals. Similarly, he has never been sent off while playing for Brazil at any level, from youth teams to the senior squad, where he has accumulated six yellow cards in total.