Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has been handed a two-game suspension for his red card in the recent victory over Valencia.
Vinicius was shown a straight red for pushing Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski and was facing a ban of at least four games for violent conduct, although it was quickly assumed that the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) would offer a shorter punishment amid claims Vinicius was provoked.
The RFEF have now confirmed Vinicius has been issued a two-game ban for what was deemed to be “violent behaviour” rather than an act of aggression.
Such a suspension will see Vinicius miss La Liga games against Las Palmas and Real Valladolid, but he will be free to face Mallorca in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Mallorca on Thursday.
Despite avoiding the toughest sanction, MARCA state Madrid still plan to appeal the verdict, believing Vinicius should not have even been sent off in the first place because of provocation from Dimitrievski.
El Chiringuito claim the Valencia goalkeeper began taunting Vinicius early in the second half because he did not take Madrid’s penalty, which was eventually missed by Jude Bellingham, with Dimitrievski allegedly continuing to try and rile Vinicius up as the clock ticked on.
Madrid are also expected to argue that Vinicius was targeted by racist abuse from the crowd in the immediate build-up to his clash with Dimitrievski.