Shocking moment VAR officials appear NOT TO SHOW ref key Vinicius Jr footage as star sent off after racial abuse
FOOTBALL fans have speculated that VAR officials did not show key sections of footage to show the referee as Vinicius Jr was sent off in Real Madrid’s clash with Valencia.
The Brazilian winger was handed a red card after a brawl broke out in the game in which it was claimed he was racially abused by the Valencia fans.
Absolute chaos!
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) May 21, 2023
Vini Jr. is now SENT OFF!
Minutes after it seemed like he was the subject of abuse, the Real Madrid star sees red pic.twitter.com/4dXlvESrQ0
The dismissal came in the closing stages of the second half after Toni Kroos went close to scoring from a free kick.
Players from both sides collided and TV replays showed Valencia’s Hugo Duro put his arm around Vinicius Jr’s neck.
The Madrid star then managed to get out of the hold and caught the striker’s head with his arm.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea was advised to go to the monitor to review the scuffle.
However, some fans have claimed that the footage shown to the Spanish official appears to have missed the part in which Vinicius Jr has Duro’s arm around his neck.
Viewers of the stream suggested that the referee was only shown the arm hitting Duro, leading to the red card of Vinicius Jr.
The moment has been slammed by viewers online as one tweeted: “This whole situation is ludicrous.
“Vinicius Jr was the subject of racial abuse, he’s then been put in a chokehold, VAR have told the referee to look at it, the footage shown to the ref didn’t show the choke and Vinicius Jr has been sent off.”
A second wrote: “With the ref being shown that portion of play the player that Vini raises his hands to even has his arm around Vinis neck so how has that been missed also. The Spanish refereeing makes our lot look amazing.”
A third said: “One of the worst decisions of the season! Utterly shocking!”
A fourth added: “How on earth hasn’t Hugo Duro been sent off there.”
A fifth defended Vinicius, by saying: “That is unbelievable, he had every right to raise his arm there to shake him off.”
After the game, the Real Madrid star claimed Spain is a “country of racists”.
He reported abuse from home supporters during his team’s 1-0 defeat at the Mestalla Stadium.
Vinicius pointed out the alleged offenders to the referee, with the match temporarily halted for around nine minutes.
Real Madrid’s star winger sarcastically applauded and gave a peace sign to the home crowd as he left the field.