Was Vinícius Jr’s expulsion unfair? Former LaLiga referee Mateu Lahoz has his say

The sending off of Vinícius Jr during the match between Real Madrid and Valencia has once again exposed the problems associated with the use of VAR in La Liga. Referee Soto Grado decided to send off the Brazilian after an incident with Valencia goalkeeper Dimitrievski. However, the decision was roundly criticised, notably by renowned former referee Mateu Lahoz, who described the action as ‘totally untenable’.

This was the game Vinicius Jr wanted to play. After the controversy and controversy surrounding racism, the Real Madrid striker wanted to impress against Valencia in Friday’s late match. But the Casa Blanca No7 was caught out by Valencia’s over-aggressive players. In the second half, Vinícius Jr was sent off following an incident with Valencia goalkeeper Dimitrievski. Referee Soto Grado felt that the Real Madrid player’s action merited a red card. However, the decision was roundly criticised.

Mateu Lahoz, a respected former referee, shared his analysis on COPE. In his opinion, the images used by VAR did not justify a red card. ‘The shot they showed us was much better than what the referee saw. With images that far away, you can’t make a decision of that calibre,’ he said. Mateu Lahoz also pointed out that in order to justify an expulsion, it is necessary to prove ‘excessive force’. However, in his opinion, the images available do not show such force in Vinícius’ action. ‘This is totally untenable in a competition like La Liga,’ he added.

🗣 #RFEF Audio revisión VAR – Vinicius

🔴 Si este es el extracto completo que analizó Soto Grado, y al igual que en 2023 en el mismo escenario, se han omitido imágenes.pic.twitter.com/KHwYK8NXK3 https://t.co/IwOZGOU5JO

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The incident began after a challenge from Dimitrievski. The Valencia goalkeeper pushed Vinícius from behind. The Brazilian reacted by pushing the goalkeeper back, but without excessive violence. However, it was Vinícius who was shown the red card. Mateu Lahoz’s colleagues on COPE also expressed their surprise. For them, a yellow card would have been more appropriate. ‘It looked like a yellow card, but the referee, under the pressure of the atmosphere, ended up sending Vinícius off,’ they commented.

Unequal treatment for Vinícius Jr

Even so, the sending off raises questions about the treatment meted out to Vinícius Jr. The Brazilian has already been sent off twice with Real Madrid, often for actions deemed minor. In comparison, players like Luis Suárez, known for his aggressive gestures, have never been sent off for similar actions during their time at Barcelona.

Vinícius is often the target of provocation. Unfortunately, it seems that referees are quicker to punish the Brazilian than to protect him. ‘The VAR images don’t show everything, and the referee can’t properly assess what’s going on,’ said Lahoz.

Despite this injustice, Vinícius must learn to handle such situations better. Provocation is part of the game, and opponents know that he has a tendency to react. To avoid damaging his team, the Brazilian must remain calm, even in the face of hostile action. Fortunately, the sending off did not prevent Real Madrid from winning the match. With 10 players, the Merengues showed their character and turned the game around, winning 2-1 thanks to Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham. Further proof of the mental strength of this team.