Headline: Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior Faces Discrepancies in Foul Treatment Compared to League Rivals
Real Madrid claimed a thrilling 2-1 victory against Espanyol in their opening La Liga match of the season, but much of the post-match conversation revolved around Vinicius Junior. The Catalan club expressed criticism on social media, asserting that the Brazilian should have received a second yellow card for simulation.
Conversely, discussions from Los Blancos emphasized that Vinicius unjustly faced fouls from Espanyol players, particularly from Alex Calatrava, and was not adequately shielded by the officiating team.
Jose Mourinho highlighted the necessity of protecting players like the 26-year-old, particularly when opponents engage in persistent fouling tactics.
According to AS, statistics illustrate a notable disparity in the treatment Vinicius receives in La Liga compared to the Champions League.
Vinicius remains La Liga’s most-fouled player
The report indicates that Vinicius must be fouled 16 times in domestic matches before any opponent receives a yellow card. Conversely, this threshold plummets to just three in European competitions.
Since the 2019-20 season, Vinicius has maintained his status as the most-fouled player in La Liga, enduring a total of 489 fouls.
Against Espanyol, he was fouled eight times, more than any other player in the match.
The disparity in the statistics is particularly troubling. In La Liga, Vinicius requires 16 fouls for an opponent to be shown a yellow card, while Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, facing similar fouls due to his agility, only needs three.
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Moreover, there’s a stark contrast in red card occurrences. Vinicius must endure 68 serious fouls before an opponent is dismissed, while Yamal’s limit is just 11.
In the Champions League, the discrepancy seems to vanish. Here, both players receive bookings at comparable rates: approximately one yellow card per three fouls.
Madrid believe there is a double standard
The observable differences in foul treatment are central to Real Madrid’s concerns.
The club asserts that Vinicius is officiated differently in Spain compared to European matches, despite receiving similar aggressive treatment from opponents.
Jose Mourinho has publicly defended Vinicius, suggesting that rivals intentionally rotate fouls throughout matches, often with insufficient consequences.
The variance in fouls-to-yellow card ratio between Lamine Yamal and Vinicius Jr. in La Liga raises significant questions. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
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Real Madrid’s concern extends beyond the frequency of fouls against Vinicius; it reflects a broader issue within officiating standards. When opponents are not sufficiently penalized, it exacerbates the risk of injury to the player.
Clearly, when one player requires 16 fouls for a booking in La Liga but only three in the Champions League, there is a pressing need for referees to reassess their decisions and the current standard of officiating.
Real Madrid may have secured a late 2-1 victory against Espanyol in dramatic fashion in their first La Liga game of the season, but all the discussion post-game was centred around Vinicius Junior.
The Catalan club took a dig on their social media, claiming that the Brazilian should have been handed a second yellow for simulation.
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Meanwhile, there was also an argument made from Los Blancos‘ side that Vinicius was unfairly fouled by Espanyol players, especially by Alex Calatrava, and was not protected by the referee.
Jose Mourinho stressed the need to protect players like the 26-year-old superstar when opponents resort to persistent fouling in a bid to stop them.
Now, according to AS, numbers highlight the striking difference between the treatment Vinicius receives in La Liga and the Champions League.
Vinicius remains La Liga’s most-fouled player
The report outlines that the Madrid winger needs to be fouled 16 times in domestic competition before an opponent is shown a yellow card. In Europe, that number drops dramatically to just three.
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Since the 2019-20 season, Vinicius has been the most-fouled player in La Liga, suffering 489 fouls in total.
Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. is the most fouled player in La Liga since 2019. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
That trend continued against Espanyol, where he was fouled eight times, more than any other player on the pitch.
The numbers are what make the comparison particularly uncomfortable. As mentioned, in La Liga, Vinicius needs 16 fouls for an opponent to receive a yellow card.
By comparison, Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal, who is also fouled a lot due to his trickery, only needs three.
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The gap is also significant when it comes to red cards. Vinicius needs 68 serious fouls before an opponent is sent off, whereas the corresponding figure for the Barça teenager is just 11.
Yet, in the Champions League, things even out. There, both players see opponents booked at roughly the same rate: one yellow card every three fouls.
Madrid believe there is a double standard
The contrast in the treatment is at the heart of Real Madrid’s complaint.
The club believe Vinicius is refereed differently in Spain compared to Europe, despite facing similarly aggressive treatment.
Jose Mourinho has already defended the Brazilian publicly, arguing that opponents rotate fouls on him throughout matches and that the pattern often goes insufficiently punished.
The difference in fouls-per-yellow card rate between Lamine Yamal and Vinicius Jr. in La Liga is striking. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
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For Madrid, the concern is not simply that Vinicius gets fouled frequently. Elite dribblers will always attract contact.
However, when opponents are not punished adequately, it gives them even more incentive to foul incessantly and potentially injure the player.
It is not that the La Liga referees do not do it for anyone, as is very clearly seen in the case of Lamine and Barcelona.
When the same player needs 16 fouls for a booking in La Liga but only three in the Champions League, it is crystal clear where the problem lies, and it is time referees took a good look in the mirror.
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