Real Madrid star once again involved in a scuffle with match official, get booed by Mallorca fans | OneFootball

Vinicius Jr. once again stole the spotlight at Son Moix, a venue where he seems to thrive every time he visits.

The Brazilian winger has developed a reputation for his encounters with Mallorca, both with the fans and the players. His rivalry with Pablo Maffeo, in particular, has become a focal point in these matchups.

Maffeo, the Mallorca full-back, was tasked with marking Vinicius throughout the game, and it did not take long for tensions to rise.

The scuffle started from the beginning

In an early off-the-ball incident, Vinicius gave Maffeo a push, sending him to the ground. This action instantly made Vinicius a target for the home crowd, who responded by loudly booing him every time he touched the ball.

The Mallorca fans also took pleasure in cheering every time Vinicius lost possession, adding to the heated atmosphere.

Vinicius Jr. was tackled by Pablo Maffeo. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)

The Real Madrid forward also found himself in a tense exchange with the referee, Soto Grado, from the start of the match. The referee took issue with Vinicius making gestures towards the section of Real Madrid supporters in the stadium.

When confronted by the referee, Vinicius responded by pointing out that the referee should address Dani Carvajal, the captain of Real Madrid, instead of him.

“What do you want, what do you want?” Vinicius was heard saying to Soto Grado. “I’ll talk to my fans. Talk to him, talk to Dani. I can’t talk to you, he’s there,” as captured by DAZN cameras (h/t Mundo Deportivo).

A risky challenge from Maffeo

The tension between Vinicius and Maffeo continued to build throughout the first half. Just before the break, there was a moment when Maffeo could have been sent off.

In a rough challenge, he arrived late and from behind, driving his studs into Vinicius’ calf as the Brazilian shielded the ball. The foul was met with complaints from the Real Madrid players, and Vinicius was left writhing on the ground in pain.

However, Soto Grado decided to punish Maffeo with only a yellow card, much to the frustration of the Madrid players and fans.

Despite the pain and controversy, Vinicius continued to play a crucial role for his team, underlining his importance in yet another challenging match at Son Moix.