VAR audio of Vinicius red card released: "I'm going to restart with a foul and a red card for the 7"

The Vinicius sending off against Villarreal is no longer up for debate. The full VAR conversation that led Isidro Díaz de Mera to show the Brazilian a red card in the 71st minute was released on Saturday. The referee did not make the call on the pitch, but after watching the replay on the monitor following a prompt from Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz in the VOR room.

• Referee Isidro Díaz de Mera reviewed the incident on the VAR monitor and changed his original call.
• Vinicius was sent off for pulling Saliba's hair in the same phase of play that produced the goal.
• The audio captures Muñiz Ruiz recommending a review and AVAR Pulido Santana talking the referee through it.
• The phrase "this is a red card" can be heard from the VOR room while the referee watches the footage.
• Díaz de Mera concludes: "I'm going to restart with a foul and a red card for the home number 7."

The incident that got Vinicius sent off against Villarreal

The flashpoint came in the 71st minute during a Real Madrid attack that ended with the ball in the net. While players jostled for position, Vinicius grabbed Saliba by the hair. In real time the action went unnoticed by Isidro Díaz de Mera, but it quickly triggered the video review protocol.

The full conversation between Díaz de Mera and the VOR room

The exchange begins with Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz, the lead VAR, making contact: "Isidro, I recommend a review so you can assess violent conduct in the build-up to the goal." The referee, however, prefers the AVAR Juan Luis Pulido Santana to take over: "Alex, let Puli speak because your audio keeps cutting out."

Pulido Santana then takes control of the communication and asks the on-field referee to let him know once he reaches the screen. "I'm at the screen already," Díaz de Mera replies. From the VOR room they explain what the replays show: Vinicius pulls the Villarreal player's hair, and the incident belongs to the same phase of play that leads to the goal.

"Okay, from what we can see, Vinicius pulls the Villarreal player's hair. This incident is part of the same phase of play that leads to the goal."

The referee requests an enlarged view to check exactly where the attacking phase ends. Meanwhile, the phrase "this is a red card" is clearly audible in the background from the VOR room.

The final call: foul and red card for Real Madrid's number 7

After watching all the images, Isidro Díaz de Mera shares his verdict with the VAR team: "Alex, Puli, I'm going to restart with a foul and a red card for the home number 7, okay?" From that moment, the referee returns to the pitch and sends off the Brazilian forward.

Violent conduct in the build-up to a goal: why the play was reviewed

The VAR protocol allows this kind of intervention because the offence occurs within the same attacking phase that ends with the goal. Since the action is treated as violent conduct rather than a simple foul, the technology requires the referee to review the play, potentially rule out the goal and punish the offender with a red card.

Frequently asked questions about the Vinicius red card