Ancelotti backs Vinicius as Real Madrid set to appeal red card decision – ‘It wasn’t a red’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that the club will lodge an appeal against the red card shown to Vinicius Jr. during their 2-1 victory over Valencia.

The match, filled with drama, saw Vinicius sent off in a controversial decision after an incident involving Stole Dimitrievski.

The incident occurred late in the match when the referee, Soto Grado, reviewed the footage of Vinicius’s actions with Dimitrievski and decided to issue a straight red card.

The decision left the Real Madrid forward furious. As soon as the red card was shown, Vinicius reacted strongly, confronting the referee.

His teammates, including Antonio Rudiger and Dani Ceballos, had to intervene to restrain him and escort him off the pitch as he continued voicing his frustration.

Real Madrid will appeal

The red card became a key talking point following the match, with Ancelotti expressing his disagreement with the referee’s decision.

Real Madrid will appeal against Vinicius’ red card. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

He emphasised that the foul did not warrant a red card, arguing that it could have been resolved with two yellow cards instead.

“We thought it wasn’t a red card. Dimitrievski touched him and then Vini pushed him, it was a yellow card for each of us and the matter ended there,” he said after the match as quoted by MARCA.

The Italian coach made it clear that Real Madrid intends to appeal the decision in an effort to overturn any potential suspension for Vinicius.

“We are going to appeal, I don’t think there will be a sanction for him. We think it wasn’t a red card,” he noted.

Real Madrid’s first-half performance was below par, with the team struggling to find their rhythm and cohesion.

However, after conceding the opening goal, they turned things around in the second half, even with ten men on the pitch following Vinicius’s dismissal.

Despite the challenges faced during the game, Ancelotti was pleased with the team’s response under difficult circumstances.