Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior is at risk of a suspension ranging from four to twelve matches after a confrontation with Valencia’s goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski during a recent La Liga fixture.
The 79th-minute incident immediately dismissed Vinicius Junior from the match, which ended 2-1 in favour of Real Madrid.
During the heated encounter at Mestalla, Vinicius pushed Dimitrievski, an action deemed aggressive and devoid of any attempt to play the ball. According to La Liga regulations, such behaviour warrants a suspension.
Spanish media, including Mundo Deportivo, anticipate Vinicius will likely face a minimum penalty of four matches. If Real Madrid advances, this potential suspension could sideline him for critical upcoming fixtures, including the Supercopa de Espana semifinal against Mallorca and possibly the final against Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao.
🚨🇧🇷 La Liga Watch: Marca reports that Vinicius Jr. is set to be suspended for 2 games, as his actions were not deemed aggressive and provocation was considered a mitigating factor.
He slapped Valencia’s GK, insulted the referee, and reminded the fans of his Ballon d’Or ranking. pic.twitter.com/Kc72ssvfCg
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) January 4, 2025Vinicius Junior’s Impact at Real Madrid
Since joining Real Madrid in July 2018, Vinicius Junior has been a pivotal player for the club. He has appeared in 286 matches in his tenure, scoring 97 goals and providing 83 assists. His stellar performance in 2024 earned him the best player at the FIFA Best Awards.
The match against Valencia was initially postponed due to floods but eventually played at a high tempo, indicative of both teams’ eagerness to compete. Despite trailing at halftime, Real Madrid demonstrated resilience, overturning a 1-0 deficit with late goals from Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham.
