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Real Madrid's head coach Jose Mourinho argues with a referee during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villarreal in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
By The Canadian Press

Real Madrid’s Vinícius red-carded for pulling hair of Villarreal player

Oct 10, 2026 | 2:03 PM

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior was sent off with a direct red card for pulling the hair of a Villarreal player in their La Liga game on Saturday.

Vinícius was celebrating after scoring for Madrid when referee Isidro Díaz de Mera was called by the video assistant to review the moments before his goal.

The referee waived off the goal and pulled out a red card for Vinícius for having tugged hard on the hair of Villarreal’s Nathan Saliba when they were sprinting down the field.

Madrid hung on for a 1-0 victory despite playing with 10 men from the 73rd minute.

Vinícius had gone on as a second-half substitute shortly before Yan Diamonde put Madrid ahead. When he thought he doubled the lead, Madrid manager Jose Mourinho ran to join the celebrations with his players.

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But moments later Vinícius was left livid by the referee’s decision. He screamed at Díaz de Mera while his teammates tried to calm him down as he left the field.

Madrid visits Barcelona in two rounds.

___

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

The Associated Press


by The Canadian Press

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