Real Madrid
Can Vinicius Jr play for Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup?
Following his red card against Valencia, there has been a question mark over Vini’s availability against Mallorca, and possibly Athletic Club or Barcelona.
Real Madrid head to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Spanish Super Cup hoping to win their second trophy of the season after lifting the UEFA Super Cup in August last year. Carlo Ancelotti’s team, who face Mallorca in the semifinals (Thursday, January 9) and could play Athletic Club or Barcelona in the final (Sunday, January 12), have been handed a huge boost by the news key attacker Vinicius Junior will be able to play.
The uncertainty over the Brazilian winger’s availability had centred around his sending off in the LaLiga victory over Valencia on January 3. Vini was shown a red card for putting his hands on opposition goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski and faced a nervous wait to learn his punishment.
With the game taking place on a Friday and Monday (January 6) being a public holiday in Spain, the Spanish Soccer Federation’s Competition Committee had waited until Tuesday (January 7) to decide what type of sanction the Madrid star should receive.
According to referee César Soto Grado, Vinicius was sent off for “deliberately striking an opponent in the head with not insignificant force, when the ball was not in play. Once sent off, said player (Vinicius) had to be restrained by members of his team and led to the dressing room while he continued protesting”.
Which Real Madrid games will Vinicius Jr be suspended for?
Real Madrid believed all along the Brazilian, according to Article 130 of the federation’s disciplinary code, would be hit with a two or three game suspension for an off-the-ball assault in the context of the game. In that case, the ban would only apply to LaLiga, allowing him to take part in the Spanish Super Cup.
This is what has ultimately been decided, with the Brazilian set to miss two league games (at home to Las Palmas on January 19, away to Real Valladolid on January 25).
The Competition Committee could have ruled that Vinicius was guilty of a general assault on Dimitrievski, which would have had more serious consequences. That would have seen Article 103 come into play and a ban of four to 12 games, served in all competitions. If that had been the outcome, the 24-year-old would have been forced to watch the Super Cup from the stands.
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