MADRID -- Vinícius Júnior has apologized to his Real Madrid teammates and fans after being red-carded for pulling an opponent's hair in a dramatic, off-the-bench cameo during his team's LaLiga win over Villarreal on Saturday.
Vinícius was celebrating scoring what he thought was Madrid's second goal when it was ruled out following a video review and he was instead sent off after replays showed he had pulled Nathan Saliba's hair in the build-up.
"The joy remains. Sorry to my team and the fans," Vinícius posted on Instagram following the game.
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However, the decision sparked an angry reaction from the Madrid bench. Coach José Mourinho later skipped his scheduled post-match news conference.
The Brazil international was left out of the starting XI by Mourinho -- replaced by Yan Diomande -- after the coach admitted that the forward has been unable to find his best form this season.
Vinícius was introduced on 52 minutes with the game tied at 0-0, with Diomande opening the scoring at the Bernabéu 10 minutes later.
Vinícius then looked to have made a decisive contribution when he converted Jude Bellingham's pass to make it 2-0, with Mourinho sprinting onto the pitch to celebrate with his players.
However a VAR check showed he had pulled Saliba's hair as he raced forwards. The goal was overturned, and referee Isidro Díaz de Mera showed Vinícius a straight red card.
"I don't understand what's happening with the referees, with the red card. I don't understand it," midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni told Real Madrid TV.
The referee's report said Vinicius had "disputed the [red card] decision, shouting, moving towards me with an aggressive attitude, and having to be restrained by his teammates."
Villarreal defender Juan Foyth had a different view of the incident.
"I don't think he meant to hurt anyone but it is a red card," the Argentina international said.
The star's punishment will be confirmed this week by the Spanish football federation's disciplinary panel, but Madrid have just one more league game -- against Sevilla on Oct. 18 -- before they travel to Barcelona for El Clásico on Oct. 25.
Although, the decision left 10-man Madrid to nervously defend a narrow lead in the game's closing stages, Mourinho's side saw out the 1-0 win.
The result leaves Real Madrid in third place in the LaLiga standings, a point behind Atlético Madrid and six points behind leaders Barcelona.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
