José Mourinho was left shocked by the decision of the Royal Spanish Football Federation to announce a four-match suspension issued to Vinícius Júnior just two hours before Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Roma on Wednesday.
Vini Jr was sent off during Real’s 1-0 victory over Villarreal at the weekend for pulling an opponent’s hair in the build-up to a goal scored by the Brazilian which was soon disallowed. The RFEF released a statement on Wednesday evening confirming the punishment of two matches for violent conduct, followed by an additional two matches for his protests to the officials at the red card.
As a result, Vini will miss Real’s match with Sevilla this weekend, as well as the clash with arch-rivals Barcelona later this month, as well as the trips to Racing Santander and Valencia before the November international break. Mourinho is clearly unhappy with the treatment of his club by the authorities, which he feels is demonstrated by the timing of the suspension.
Mourinho asked an attending reporter: “You’re the journalist, but can I ask you a question? Do you think it’s normal for a player on a Spanish team, about to play an important match for Spanish football, to find out two hours beforehand that he’s been suspended for four games? You don’t need to answer me. It’s not normal.
“Couldn’t they have done it now or tomorrow morning? We found out on the bus, almost as we were arriving at the stadium. This is turning into something like what they say in Portuguese: ’a hidden cat with its tail showing.’ Now the cat isn’t hiding anymore; it’s out in the open, and things are being done shamelessly.
“Two hours before a Spanish team’s match, a player finds out he’s been suspended for four games, and you ruin a player. It’s not normal, but now it seems normal to me because the cat isn’t hiding anymore.”
“A player tries to block out feelings and emotions . Obviously for different reasons, but I’ve also had to do it to play here against my people, to play here in my stadium, to play here with people I love. I’ve also had to block them out.
“A player also has to have this ability, and I think he’s done it quite well. The difficulties he had in the first half are a positive result of Gasperini, who did a great job of making things difficult for us. They’re not Vini Jr. ’s fault; they’re Gasperini’s fault, who is a very high-quality coach.”
“I’m too old to swallow it”
Mourinho was asked if the announcement of Vini’s suspension two hours before kick-off was a “declaration of war” given other similar grievances. Mourinho is also frustrated that his team will play AEK Athens on Wednesday 4th November, just three days before they make the tough trip to play Valencia at the Mestalla.
“At the very least, it shows a lack of respect,” he said. “Playing in Athens on Wednesday night. Arriving in Madrid probably at 5 a.m., something like that, and then playing in Valencia on Saturday, on a weekend preceding an international break, makes absolutely no sense.
“They make you play in Valencia on Saturday, which is an extremely difficult match. I don’t think it’s innocent. I don’t buy the usual excuses because I’ve been in football for 25 years. The excuses from the TV network, which decided and scheduled the match for Saturday, I don’t buy that anymore. I’m too old to swallow that.
“And this Vini Jr. story, finding out two hours before the match that he has a four-match suspension... It doesn’t deserve comment. Real Madrid fans aren’t stupid. And I’ll do everything I can to open people’s eyes.”
