Carlo Ancelotti has expressed his displeasure with the red card given to Vinicius Jr after their 2-1 victory over Valencia. The Brazilian winger was sent off in the second half after a confrontation with Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Dimitrievski, which Ancelotti felt was unjust. Despite the 79th-minute decision, Los Blancos came back from a 1-0 down to score twice in minutes 85 and 95.
This helped them to climb to the top of La Liga ahead of rivals Atletico Madrid. Vini Jr. has apologised to his teammates for his red card in the team’s win over Valencia. The referee did not see the event on the pitch but was alerted by VAR and gave a red card. The number 7 expressed his fury with the referee by charging at Soto Grado.
He faced racist shouts as he exited the field. While being led away, he heard chants of “monkey” in Spanish. Vinicius Jr. was agitated before being dismissed, and he responded accordingly. He was booed every time he touched the ball, and the fans applauded every tackle involving the winger. In retaliation, he made a finger sign referring to Valencia’s effort to avoid relegation. Mestalla once again hosted a tough episode with Vini Jr.
Vinicius Junior’s Red Card Sparks Outrage
In May 2023, he was racially abused by Valencia fans, who nicknamed him a “monkey” during a La Liga encounter. Vini Jr. was also sent off that day after getting into a fight with goalkeeper Mamardashvili, earning a red card. The 2023 episode was another example of prejudice against Brazilians in Spain, but it stood out as the most symbolic. Three Valencia supporters were sentenced to eight months in prison and a two-year ban from all football grounds.
Ancelotti after the victory said, We felt the sending-off should have been two yellows, one for each player, but they showed Vini Jr. a red. We don’t feel it was a red card. Dimitrievski laid hands on him and then there was Vini Jr.’s shove. Two yellows would have sufficed and that would have been it.
