## Mourinho skips post-match press conference after Vinícius Jr. red card
José Mourinho did not attend Real Madrid’s post-match press conference after the club’s 1-0 win over Villarreal. Reports said the coach wanted to avoid a possible suspension after a tense second half involving Vinícius Jr.
The Brazilian forward had a goal ruled out following a VAR review and was then shown a red card. The incident, which involved Vinícius pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair, sparked a strong reaction from Mourinho during the match.
## VAR overturns Vinícius Jr. goal and sends him off
Vinícius Jr. came on as a substitute in the 52nd minute. About 20 minutes later, VAR asked the referee to review the play in which the forward scored. The goal was disallowed, and the referee sent Vinícius off after reviewing the hair-pulling incident.
Mourinho had celebrated with his team shortly before the VAR decision was reversed. According to reports, the coach was furious with how the sequence unfolded and chose not to speak to the media afterward.
Real Madrid still secured the victory, with Yan Diomande scoring the only goal against Villarreal.
## Vinícius apologizes to Real Madrid fans and teammates
After the match, Vinícius apologized to his teammates and supporters in a post on Instagram.
“Sorry to the team and the fans,” he wrote.
The red card could have consequences beyond the Villarreal match. Spanish Football Federation rules classify hair-pulling as violent conduct, with Article 130 allowing a suspension of one to three games.
## Potential suspension could affect the Clásico
Real Madrid’s upcoming schedule includes matches against Sevilla, Barcelona and Racing Santander. Depending on the length of the ban, Vinícius could miss the Clásico against Barcelona on Oct. 25.
The potential absence of the forward would be a major concern for Real Madrid, particularly in one of the season’s most high-profile fixtures.
## Mourinho’s return to Rome adds significance to next match
Mourinho was expected to return to media duties on Tuesday, ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League trip to face AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.
The fixture marks Mourinho’s first return to the stadium since Roma dismissed him in January 2024. He managed the Italian club from 2021 to 2024, leading Roma to victory in the inaugural UEFA Conference League in 2022 and the Europa League final in 2023. Roma lost that final to Sevilla on penalties.