Another 'favor'! Soto Grado manipulates his report to spare Vinicius from a greater sanction

César Soto Grado got into trouble again after the Valencia-Real Madrid (1-2) match played on Friday at Mestalla. Although the Castellon referee was correct in expelling Vinicius Jr. in the 79th minute for a clear aggression against goalkeeper Dimitrievski, the wording of the match report may favor the Brazilian, sparing him from a much greater sanction than he should suffer after losing his temper, for the umpteenth time, in a league match.

Initially, Soto Grado claims in his conversation with the VAR that Vini will receive the red card "for hitting the goalkeeper in the face with his arms", while the ball was stopped. However, in the match report, the referee manipulates his testimony, stating that the ball "was not in dispute". This change is crucial for the Madrid '7' to avoid receiving a sanction of 4 or more matches, which is what the regulations establish for flagrant aggressions.

Iturralde González, blunt against Soto Grado's manipulation

"In the 79th minute, player (7) De Oliveira Do Nascimento, Vinicius José was expelled for the following reason: For deliberately hitting an opponent in the head, while the ball was not in dispute using non-insignificant force", wrote the referee in the report. Furthermore, he noted that "once expelled, the player had to be restrained by members of his club and taken to the locker room while continuing his protests".

In this regard, former referee Iturralde González criticized the referee of the Valencia-Real Madrid match for drafting a "lenient" report that also contradicts his audio with the VAR. "That in the images he says, that he asks if the ball is stopped, which is the important thing about this... Because it is going from article 121 to 103 (of the Disciplinary Code). Going from an article of 2 or 3 match sanctions, to one of 4 to 12. So, you see the difference of putting one phrase", he explained on the program 'El Larguero' of the 'SER' network.

Moreover, Iturralde does not understand why, when mentioning how Vinicius was taken to the locker room, he does not also mention the hostile behavior of the player towards him.  "He is being very lenient, because it allows for changing the article. If I don't hear the audio I say... okay, it will be his perception, but once I hear the audio and there it says 'ball stopped, is the game stopped? Yes'...", pointed out the former Spanish referee.

The precedent of Leganés that worries Real Madrid

For a similar aggression, Leganés player Óscar Rodríguez received a 4-match suspension from the Spanish Football Federation's Disciplinary Committee (RFEF), without the 'pepinero' team being able to appeal, as established by article 103 of the Disciplinary Code. The sanction can range from 4 to 12 matches, since "the use of both hands to grab by the neck and knock down an opponent indicates, in the Committee's opinion, a more serious intention than generic violence".

In Vinicius' case, the aggression against Dimitrievski is very similar to that committed by the Leganés player against Yeremy Pino (Villarreal). However, Real Madrid hopes that, in the worst-case scenario, the Brazilian will receive two or three match sanctions in LaLiga, as the infraction is classified as "violent play", which would allow him to compete in the Supercopa de España next week. The club, in fact, expressed indignation with Soto Grado and will appeal the expulsion.