The disciplinary committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has rejected Real Madrid's initial challenge and upheld Vinicius Junior's four-match ban, leaving the club to take the case to the appeals committee. The Brazilian was sent off in the 73rd minute against Villarreal after a video assistant referee (VAR) review caught him pulling Nathan Saliba's hair. The committee handed him two matches for violent conduct off the ball and two more for protesting at the referee.
The stakes are high. Unless the appeals committee overturns the decision, Vinicius will miss La Liga fixtures against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia, including El Clasico at Spotify Camp Nou on 25 October. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho claimed the announcement had been deliberately timed for shortly before the Champions League meeting with Roma. Until the appeal is resolved, Vinicius remains out of Madrid's upcoming La Liga matches.
