Mourinho Slams Timing of Vinicius Junior’s Four-Match Ban

Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has strongly criticised the timing of the announcement of Vinicius Junior’s four-match suspension in La Liga.

The Brazilian winger received the ban following his red card in Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Villarreal. According to Mourinho, the club learned of the punishment just two hours before their Champions League match against Roma, while the team was travelling by bus to the Stadio Olimpico.

“Do you think it is normal for a player from a Spanish team, who is about to take part in a match of enormous importance for Spanish football, to find out two hours before kick-off that he has been suspended for four games? Don’t bother answering. It is not normal,” Mourinho said.

The Portuguese coach also questioned why the decision could not have been announced after the match or the following morning.

Mourinho made his strongest point with a reference to a Portuguese saying: “The cat tries to hide, but its tail sticks out.”

“Now, however, the cat is not even trying to hide. It is behaving in a completely shameless manner,” he added.

Mourinho described the situation as unacceptable, arguing that announcing such a significant decision so close to an important European fixture could seriously affect a player’s mental state.