Transcript of referee VAR discussion on Vinícius Jr.’s red card emerges

VAR: “I recommend you review the footage to assess a possible act of violent conduct during the move that led to the goal.”

Referee: “Okay.”

VAR: “Isidro, wait until they sit down and let us know when you’re in front of the monitor.”

Referee: “I’m in front of the monitor.”

VAR: “Okay. From the footage, Vinícius pulls the hair of the Villarreal players.”

Referee: “Alright, I’ve already seen that incident. It’s part of the same attacking phase that ended with the goal.”

Referee: “Show me a wider angle. I want to get a better look at the incident.”

VAR: “Okay.”

Referee: “For me, the incident starts with a foul and a red card for number 7 of the home team. Is that correct?”

VAR: “Understood, thank you.”

VIA YARDBARKER:

According to the Spanish newspaper “Mundo Deportivo”, Muniz Ruiz flagged the incident to Diaz de Mera, saying: “Isidro, I advise you to review the incident to assess whether there was violent conduct during the goal-scoring move”.

Diaz de Mera replied: “Alex, let Puli (the Assistant Video Assistant Referee) speak, because your voice keeps cutting out”. Pulido Santana, serving as the Assistant Video Assistant Referee, then stepped in: “Let us know when you reach the screen, Isi”.

The referee reached the monitor and said: “I’m at the screen now”. The Video Assistant Referee room explained: “Right, from what we can see, Vinicius is pulling the hair of a Villarreal player. This incident falls within the same phase of the goal-scoring move”.

Diaz de Mera asked for more: “Excellent, show me a wide shot, I want to see where the attacking phase ends (how the incident itself develops)”.

In the background, one of those in the Video Assistant Referee room could be heard saying: “This is a red-card incident”.

Shown the full footage, the referee settled on his decision: “Alex, Puli, as far as I’m concerned I’ll restart play by awarding a foul and showing the red card to player number 7 of the home side, agreed?”.

Back came one word from the Video Assistant Referee team: “Agreed”. With that, Diaz de Mera brandished the red card at Vinicius Junior.