Vinícius sent off after VAR review as Real Madrid edge Villarreal 1–0

Real Madrid beat Villarreal 1–0 on Saturday, but Vinícius Júnior’s sending-off became the match’s defining moment. After the forward scored what appeared to be a second goal, VAR review overturned it and referee Isidro Díaz de Mera showed him a straight red for pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair in the buildup. Yan Diomande scored the only goal. LaLiga’s match record confirms the final score and the overturned goal; Real Madrid’s report also confirms the sending-off. The sequence raises a clear question for fans: should VAR intervene on an off-ball foul in the buildup after play has continued? Sources: [The Guardian, reporting for AFP](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/10/real-madrids-vinicius-junior-sent-off-for-hair-pulling-in-victory-over-villarreal) · [LaLiga match record](https://www.laliga.com/en-US/match/temporada-2026-2027-laliga-ea-sports-real-madrid-villarreal-cf-8) · [Real Madrid match report](https://www.realmadrid.com/en-US/news/football/first-team/reports/cronica-real-madrid-villarreal-j8-liga-10-10-2026) ~sports ~football