Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has criticized the two-match suspension handed to Vinicius Junior after the Brazilian winger’s red card against Valencia in La Liga.
Vinicius Junior was sent off during Madrid’s 2-1 victory on Friday after pushing Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski in the back of the neck.
The ban rules him out of league matches against Las Palmas and Real Valladolid but allows him to participate in the Spanish Super Cup this week.
Speaking from Saudi Arabia ahead of Madrid’s Super Cup semifinal clash against Mallorca, Ancelotti expressed frustration with the decision, stating, “Both he and I hear what happens in the stadiums, the insults… the ban is not right.”
During the match at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium, Vinicius faced jeers from the crowd, which echoed an earlier incident in 2022 when he was racially abused at the same venue. LaLiga has reported chants of “stupid, stupid” from Valencia fans to the Spanish football federation’s anti-violence committee.
Ancelotti defended his player, saying, “I’m tired because when people talk about Vinicius provoking (people), they’re deflecting from the insults he receives from everyone. We are delighted with Vinicius in all ways.”
In the Super Cup, Barcelona will face Athletic Bilbao in the first semifinal, followed by Real Madrid’s clash with Mallorca.