On Tuesday, Real Madrid won 3-2 against Deportivo Alaves at home, but the game caused the team a lot of stress. After 48 minutes, they were leading 3-0 with goals from Lucas, Mbappe, and Rodrygo. However, they conceded two late goals, and the final score ended at 3-2. And that was the least of the damage. In Spain, there’s ongoing debate about the puzzling officiating during this match.
Vinicius's Outrageous Behavior: He Was Begging for a Card
Some experts believe Real should have finished the game with only nine players, as both Vinicius Junior and Endrick deserved red cards earlier in the match. Referee Mueiz Ruiz didn’t show either one a red card, even though Vinicius, in particular, seemed to be begging for it multiple times. What happened?
Vinicius had already received a yellow card by the 30th minute for protesting after the referee wrongfully denied Real a corner kick. However, he continued to stir up the fans in protest, which many experts felt warranted another yellow card. The referee let it slide. There’s an interesting statistic tied to Vinicius's actions: Real Madrid has received more yellow cards for dissent than any other team in La Liga 2024/25 - eight in total. Vinicius Junior has collected three of those, more than any other player, reported OptaJose on X (formerly Twitter).
The controversy surrounding Vinicius didn’t stop there. Later in the match, he fouled Alaves defender Santiago Mourinho off the ball, knocking him to the ground. As he jumped over Mourinho, Vinicius painfully stepped on his foot. The referee didn’t see it, and once again, Vinicius got away without punishment.
Vinicius and Endrick Should Have Been Sent Off: Bizarre Refereeing Decisions
Vinicius even made headlines when he was substituted. In the 90th minute, Carlo Ancelotti replaced him with Fran Garcia, and Vinicius acted disrespectfully toward the fourth official. When the official raised the board showing six minutes of added time, Vinicius laughed and pointed at him. Cameras caught him saying, "Six minutes? He’s crazy!". He continued to question the decision, which also could have resulted in a card. Had he received one, it wouldn’t have affected the match, but Vinicius would have been suspended from Sunday’s Madrid derby against Atletico.
However, the biggest debate arose from an incident involving Endrick. In the 81st minute, most observers believed the 18-year-old deserved a straight red card. Endrick brutally kicked Santiago Mourinho (the same player involved with Vinicius) in the groin while they were both waiting for a cross in the penalty box.
Since the incident happened away from the ball, the main referee might not have seen it. However, he received a signal from his assistants. The outcome? Only a yellow card. Had the referee not been so lenient, who knows how this match might have ended.
