The Ethics Committee of the Spanish Football Federation lifted, on Tuesday evening, the ban on Real Madrid’s Spanish international, Vinicius Junior, after the red card he received at the end of his team’s match against Valencia after he was subjected to racist chants.
A statement issued by the Spanish Federation said: “In view of the evidence shown by the video images provided by Real Madrid regarding the incident of Vinicius Junior’s expulsion in the 90 + 5 minute, the Conduct Committee decided to cancel the disciplinary penalties for this expulsion and allowed the Brazilian player to play his team’s match against Rayo Fascano on Wednesday.” At the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in the thirty-sixth stage of the Spanish League.
And the Spanish arbitration committee had previously excluded referee Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva on Tuesday from his next two matches, for his role in the red card that was awarded to Real Madrid’s Brazilian player Vinicius Junior against Valencia.
Spanish media reported that the 47-year-old had been sacked, although the Spanish federation did not confirm this in response to an AFP question.
Iglesias Villanueva was in charge of “VAR” during Valencia’s 1-0 victory in “La Liga” over Real Sunday, as Vinicius was subjected to racist abuse from the home team’s fans at the Mestalla stadium.
Later in the match, the 22-year-old was sent off for hitting Valencia’s Ugo Duro, after referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengochea watched footage of the two players on VAR several times.
However, the video shown by Iglesias Villanueva did not include Duro catching the Brazilian around his neck with his arm first, which would also have been a red card offence.
Valencia was punished with a partial closure of its stadium for five matches and a fine of 45,000 euros ($ 49,536) after the incident of racial discrimination against Vinicius Junior, a Real Madrid player, in their match last Sunday.
