The Vinicius case is beginning to ripple through football governance. In the wake of the incidents surrounding Vinícius Júnior at Mestalla last Sunday, Luis Rubiales, the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, issued the first public remarks. The federation and the Technical Referee Committee acted immediately, signaling that the events would prompt formal consequences for the refereeing process and its oversight mechanisms.
Madrid concerns
Nacho Iglesias Villanueva, who oversees VAR operations, is slated to step down after his final match this week. The Marca newspaper had already suggested that his retirement would accompany that of five other referees for the upcoming season. An official statement responding to Real Madrid’s request pressed Rubiales to take decisive action regarding VAR operations. It asserted that Rubiales, as the head of both the federation and the refereeing body, allowed measures to avoid preventing the situation, according to FIFA protocols. This stance contends that the image of Spanish football suffered visible damage on the global stage.
The contention goes further, arguing that the federation’s perceived passivity contributed to Vinícius Júnior’s feelings of vulnerability and exposure. Instead of taking firm action in line with regulatory standards, referees appeared to hesitate, opting to refrain from decisions that should have been within their purview. Just yesterday, officials overseeing refereeing and VAR are said to have evaded accountability, presenting decisions they characterize as unfair and based on footage they deem neither complete nor unbiased, which allegedly influenced the direct ejection of Vinícius Júnior.
Vinícius released a video in which he described the abuse as a crime and as something that demands accountability. Investigations extended to the review room and the video material sent to the official De Burgos Bengoetxea. It is indicated that Vinícius faced an assault, with Hugo Duro and a Valencia player involved, and that one opponent was restrained during the confrontation. The federation, seeking to avoid delaying developments, moved swiftly to determine the facts and consider disciplinary measures.
The inquiry highlighted that De Burgos Bengoetxea was not fully apprised of all details and was only informed that the Brazilian opponent had been forced away. This led to concerns about how information was communicated to the official aligned with the scene. The footage also called into question how the Madrid officials communicated with Iglesias Villanueva, with critics arguing that crucial information had not been conveyed accurately. Madrid pressed for a robust approach and exemplary consequences, and Rubiales acted promptly to reinforce the seriousness of the situation, accepting the communicated position as the starting point for further action.