Real Madrid kicked off their new season with a late winner, but the victory was overshadowed by controversy surrounding Vinicius Jr.'s behavior on the pitch.
During the match against Espanyol, the Brazilian went down in the penalty area twice, but referee José María Sánchez Martínez did not award a penalty either time. Vinicius had already been booked in the first half after clashing with Álex Calatrava Torrado. The incidents sparked outrage among Espanyol fans, who took to social media to express their frustration.
Espanyol's social media post read: "How many dives does it actually take to get a second yellow card? Asking for a friend." The club was referring to Vinicius' falls during the game. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was asked about the social media post after the final whistle and reacted sharply: "Espanyol's tweet? You should look in the mirror before talking about others. It's easy to judge things only from your own perspective." He added: "I'd like to see whether these teams post the same tweets when they play against teams other than us…"
Refereeing expert Iturralde González, for radio station 'Cadena SER', said he could understand Espanyol's frustration. "He puts a little hand on him and he goes down. If you're already on a yellow, I don't know why he does something like that," the former referee said after the game. In his view, a second yellow card would have been justifiable.
Real Madrid coach José Mourinho also defended Vinicius afterward. "Vini is no saint, but what they do to him is too much," he said at the press conference. He added: "We live in a social era of anti-bullying. With Vini, we are still in the bullying phase — whether from the opposition or from the crowd. We have to educate him as best we can and prepare him for it as best we can."
The Brazilian is repeatedly targeted by opponents, and his new coach's words suggest that he is struggling to cope with the pressure. Vinicius would have to show great restraint, even though it frustrates him. Mourinho spoke to him after the game and told him: "If you score a goal, then be careful how you celebrate it."
The season has only just begun, but the pattern is already familiar. Vinícius Júnior is once again dividing the league, and many more heated chapters are likely to follow this season. Real Madrid will need to navigate the controversy surrounding their star player if they are to succeed in their title bid.
The club's next match is against Real Sociedad, and it remains to be seen whether Vinicius will be able to put the controversy behind him and focus on his football. The pressure will be on him to perform, and it will be interesting to see how he responds.
Source: Yahoo Sports
