Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has been handed a two-match suspension in La Liga for violent conduct after being sent off during Friday’s win at Valencia, Afrosport reports.
Vinicius was shown a straight red card for pushing Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski in the back of the neck. However, despite playing with 10 men, the visitors scored twice in the last 10 minutes of the game to seal a hard-fought 2-1 comeback win at the Mestalla.
The Spanish champions appealed the red card, but their attempt was unsuccessful, and the Spanish Football Federation has banned Vinicius for the next two La Liga games against Las Palmas and Real Valladolid.
The 24-year-old was spared from a harsher punishment, which could have kept him out of the upcoming Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, as Los Blancos are set to take on Mallorca in the semifinal on Thursday, 9 January, with a potential final against either Athletic Bilbao or Barcelona.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men are currently top of La Liga with 43 points after 19 matches and will host Las Palmas at the Santiago Bernabeu on 19 January before visiting Valladolid on 25 January.
