VAR leaks reveal details of Vinicius' red card during Villarreal match

What happened in the VAR room?

The recordings revealed that Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz, the VAR official, advised referee Isidro Díaz de Mera to review the incident, saying: "Isidro, I recommend you check the footage to assess whether there was violent conduct during the buildup to the goal."

After approaching the review screen, Díaz de Mera informed the officiating crew that he was watching the footage, to which the VAR team responded: "Well, from what we see, Vinícius is pulling the hair of a Villarreal player. This incident falls within the buildup to the goal."

The referee requested a wider angle to follow the progression of the incident and determine the phase of the attack during which it occurred, while one of the VAR team members was heard saying: "This is a case that warrants a red card."

After reviewing the footage, Díaz de Mera announced his decision, saying: "Alex, Poli, for me, I will resume play by calling a foul and issuing a red card to player number 7 of the home team. Do you agree?"

The VAR team's response was brief: "Agreed," before the referee showed the red card to Vinícius and canceled the goal.

Vinícius apologizes and criticizes officiating

Vinícius expressed his frustration after his dismissal and engaged in a heated discussion with the referee, before his teammates intervened to calm the situation.

After the match, the Brazilian player posted a brief apology on his Instagram account, writing: "The joy continues, I apologize to my team and the fans," without specifying whether his apology was related to the incident itself or leaving his team a man down.

Later, Vinícius reposted clips of refereeing decisions that he felt demonstrated inconsistencies in the calls, commenting: "The one who always gets yellow and red cards is Vinícius, what a shame," accompanied by laughing emojis.

Additionally, coach José Mourinho refused to attend the post-match press conference, a move that came amid the controversy surrounding the goal's cancellation and the player's red card in the same incident.

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Vinícius scored a goal that he believed put Real Madrid ahead 2-0, before the video assistant referee intervened to review an incident involving him pulling the hair of Villarreal's Nathan Aké during the buildup, leading the referee to cancel the goal and send off the Brazilian winger.

The match ended with Real Madrid winning 1-0, despite the team playing with ten men from the 72nd minute.

What happened in the VAR room?

The recordings revealed that Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz, the VAR official, advised referee Isidro Díaz de Mera to review the incident, saying: "Isidro, I recommend you check the footage to assess whether there was violent conduct during the buildup to the goal."

After approaching the review screen, Díaz de Mera informed the officiating crew that he was watching the footage, to which the VAR team responded: "Well, from what we see, Vinícius is pulling the hair of a Villarreal player. This incident falls within the buildup to the goal."

The referee requested a wider angle to follow the progression of the incident and determine the phase of the attack during which it occurred, while one of the VAR team members was heard saying: "This is a case that warrants a red card."

After reviewing the footage, Díaz de Mera announced his decision, saying: "Alex, Poli, for me, I will resume play by calling a foul and issuing a red card to player number 7 of the home team. Do you agree?"

The VAR team's response was brief: "Agreed," before the referee showed the red card to Vinícius and canceled the goal.

Vinícius apologizes and criticizes officiating

Vinícius expressed his frustration after his dismissal and engaged in a heated discussion with the referee, before his teammates intervened to calm the situation.

After the match, the Brazilian player posted a brief apology on his Instagram account, writing: "The joy continues, I apologize to my team and the fans," without specifying whether his apology was related to the incident itself or leaving his team a man down.

Later, Vinícius reposted clips of refereeing decisions that he felt demonstrated inconsistencies in the calls, commenting: "The one who always gets yellow and red cards is Vinícius, what a shame," accompanied by laughing emojis.

Additionally, coach José Mourinho refused to attend the post-match press conference, a move that came amid the controversy surrounding the goal's cancellation and the player's red card in the same incident.