Mourinho blasts Spanish FA over Vinicius ban after Real Madrid’s Roma comeback
Real Madrid recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat Gian Piero Gasperini’s side 4-3 at the Stadio Olimpico, but the Champions League victory was overshadowed by José Mourinho’s anger at the timing of Vinicius Junior’s four-match domestic suspension.
Late comeback delivers vital European win
Madrid were left chasing the match after Donyell Malen scored twice for the home team, with the second arriving in the 57th minute. Vinicius was withdrawn immediately after that goal, having earlier surrendered possession in the move that led to the hosts’ second.
The visitors nonetheless produced a remarkable late response. Carlos Espi, Endrick and Antonio Rudiger all scored as Madrid turned the game around and secured a 4-3 result in Italy.
- Madrid had fallen two goals behind before their late recovery.
- Malen scored both of the home side’s goals mentioned in the match.
- Espi, Endrick and Rudiger supplied the strikes that completed Madrid’s comeback.
- Kylian Mbappe made his 100th Champions League appearance, reaching the milestone at the age of 27 and becoming the competition’s youngest player to do so.
The three points keep Madrid in touch at the top and add to Spain’s European coefficient total, an issue Mourinho raised in his post-match response.
Mourinho objects to Vinicius ruling before kick-off
The Spanish federation’s disciplinary decision was communicated to the Madrid team bus around two hours before the Champions League tie. Mourinho said the late notification had affected the Brazilian forward ahead of a match he described as significant for Spanish football.
“Is it normal for a player from a Spanish club to learn two hours before an important match that he has received a four-game ban?” Mourinho said. He argued that the ruling could have been delivered the following morning rather than as the squad approached the stadium.
Mourinho also questioned why a club earning points for Spain’s ranking and prestige had to deal with the news immediately before a European fixture. In his view, the manner of the announcement was an unnecessary blow to the player’s preparation.
Four-game ban follows Villarreal incident
Vinicius received the sanction after an incident during Saturday’s 1-0 La Liga win over Villarreal. Having entered the game in the 52nd minute, he believed he had scored Madrid’s second goal, only for the referee to overturn it after consulting the pitchside monitor and send him off.
The dismissal followed a confrontation with Nathan Saliba in which Vinicius pulled the opponent’s hair. Mourinho did not attend his post-match press conference after the Villarreal match.
- Two matches of the ban were imposed for violent conduct while Vinicius was not competing for the ball.
- The other two games were added for protests directed at the officials.
- Vinicius apologised publicly, saying he was sorry to the team and Madrid supporters.
League schedule without Vinicius
The suspension removes Vinicius from four upcoming league fixtures and gives Mourinho a selection problem during a demanding period in La Liga.
- Sevilla, October 18
- Barcelona, October 25
- Racing Santander, November 1
- Valencia away, six days later
Madrid will take confidence from their response in Rome, but their domestic challenge now continues without one of their leading attackers for the next four league matches.
