Real Madrid’s Vinicius banned for Clasico after hair-pull red card

What the report says

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has been suspended for four La Liga matches after being sent off for pulling an opponent’s hair during a league game against Villarreal, Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. The punishment means he will miss Madrid’s next domestic fixtures, including the highly anticipated El Clasico against Barcelona on Oct. 25.

According to the report, the Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee imposed the ban after a VAR review of the incident led to Vinicius being shown a red card. The article says the Brazil international had briefly thought he had scored before the goal was overturned and the dismissal was confirmed. Al Jazeera also reported that the committee took into account his protests after the decision.

Vinicius later apologised on social media, writing that he was sorry to his team and the fans. The suspension is a setback for Real Madrid ahead of a key stretch of league matches, especially the clash with Barcelona, who are described in the report as league champions and one of Madrid’s main rivals.

More broadly, disciplinary bans of this kind can affect a team’s rotation and attacking options in a crowded season, particularly when they come before a major rivalry match. That context is general background, rather than a separate finding from the report.