credit: Twitter
The disputed red card given to Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior in their 1-0 loss to Valencia at the Mestalla on Sunday has been revoked, according to the Spanish Football Federation's (RFEF) Competition Committee. Vinicius was sent off during the additional time of the game after a brawl with rival players and fans in which he was judged to have behaved violently as he swung an arm at the face of Valencia's Hugo Duro. The Brazilian had been the target of racist abuse from opposition fans throughout the game.
Vinicius received the first direct red card of his career, his second overall, after receiving another with Real Madrid Castilla in October 2018, however, he won't now be suspended. This indicates that he will be available in the lineups when Real Madrid square off against Rayo Vallecano at their home, the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The RFEF said the following in a release "The RFEF Competition Committee considers that the referee's assessment was determined by the omission of the entirety of the play that took place, which affected the refereeing decision. The fact that he (the referee) was deprived of a decisive part of the facts led him to adopt an arbitrary decision. And this is because it was impossible for him to properly assess what happened."
Valencia fined and sanctioned partial stadium closure for five matches
In addition to not suspending Vinicius for receiving a red card against Valencia, the Competition Committee also initiated action against Valencia and its supporters for the racial slurs directed at him on Sunday night. The decision to partially close the Mario Kempes south stand of the Mestalla for the upcoming five games—a period that would extend into next season—was the most notable penalty imposed on the team. In addition, the club was penalised with a €45,000 ($49,536) fine for the conduct of its supporters.
Real Madrid are currently ranked at the second position in the league table, just below league winners Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. The Los Blancos have three games remaining in the league. They will face Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla, and Athletic Club in the coming days.
