Vinícius Júnior was sent off with a red card during Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Valencia on May 21, 2023, following a contentious moment late in the game. The incident occurred in the 89th minute after Vinícius clashed with Valencia’s Hugo Duro.
After being fouled by Duro, Vinícius, frustrated by the repeated fouls he had endured throughout the match, pushed his opponent in retaliation. The referee initially showed Vinícius a yellow card, but after further review, he decided to issue a straight red card, sending the Brazilian winger off.
The decision sparked a variety of reactions. Many felt that Vinícius had been unfairly singled out, particularly after the racial abuse he had faced earlier in the match from certain sections of the Valencia crowd.
The incident highlighted ongoing issues of racism in football and raised questions about refereeing decisions, with many criticizing how Vinícius had been treated during the game.
Despite the red card, Real Madrid won 2-1, and Vinícius received strong support from his teammates, fans, and players around the world.
The event further fueled important conversations about the challenges players like him face, especially in dealing with racism and controversial refereeing.
