Vinicius Junior was sent off in the second half of Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Valencia after sending off opposing goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.

After being shown a red card in the 79th minute, the 24-year-old appeared to raise his arm towards referee Cesar Soto Grado, but was held back by some of his teammates and Madrid staff.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the end of the season that the club intended to appeal the decision.

Vinicius Jr. was targeted by the home fans at Mestalla with numerous chants of “Vinicius, water polo” and “fool.”

In his final act of the game, the striker parried a shot on goal from defender Dimitri Foulquier before pushing straight into Dimitrievski’s face.

(Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

He later took to social media to apologize, writing on X shortly after full-time: “Sorry and thank you team.”

“We will appeal against Vini’s red card,” Ancelotti said during his post-match press conference.

It is the second time in his career that Vinicius Jr. has been sent off at the Mestalla in Valencia. In May 2023 he was the victim of mass racist insults in the same stadium. Vinicius Jr. was sent off in stoppage time following a melee, but this was overturned following a review by the Spanish Football Federation’s competition committee.

Thanks to Jude Bellingham’s 95th-minute winner, Madrid came from behind to beat Valencia 2-1 on Friday.

(Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)