Sports October 14, 2026 7:42 pm
Real Madrid coach José Mourinho has questioned the timing of the announcement of Vinicius Jr’s four-match La Liga suspension, suggesting that the news should not have been released shortly before Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League fixture.
The Portuguese coach expressed his concerns over the Spanish Refereeing Committee’s decision to publish details of the suspension minutes before Real Madrid’s European match, asking why the announcement was made at that particular time.
As reported by football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano on X, the Madrid gaffer was quoted as saying, “Ask Spanish Refereeing Committee why they published the news about Vini’s ban minutes before he plays an important UCL game,” Mourinho said.
“Real Madrid is a Spanish club, so why publish it now?”
Vinicius has reportedly been handed a four-match suspension that would rule him out of several domestic fixtures, including the highly anticipated El Clásico against Barcelona.
The Brazilian forward is expected to miss matches against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia if the suspension stands.
The timing of the announcement has raised questions, with Mourinho suggesting that releasing the information shortly before an important European fixture could have been avoided.
Real Madrid are preparing for their Champions League commitments while also facing the prospect of losing one of their key attacking players for crucial domestic matches.
Vinicius’ potential absence from El Clásico would be a significant development for the Spanish giants, given his importance to their attacking play and previous performances against Barcelona.
Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.
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