Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has criticised the timing of the announcement of Vinícius Júnior’s four-match suspension, describing it as “shameless” after the decision was communicated just hours before the Spanish giants’ Champions League encounter with Roma.

The Brazilian winger was handed the suspension on Wednesday following his dismissal during Real Madrid’s 1-0 La Liga victory over Villarreal on Saturday. He was sent off for pulling an opponent’s hair, an incident that subsequently attracted disciplinary action from the Spanish football authorities.

Mourinho, however, questioned why the punishment was announced so close to Real Madrid’s European fixture, arguing that the timing placed unnecessary pressure on the player and disrupted preparations for an important match.

Vinícius was included in the starting line-up against Roma and played as Real Madrid produced a dramatic late comeback to secure a 4-3 victory at the Stadio Olimpico, recovering from a 3-1 deficit with seven minutes remaining.

Speaking after the match, Mourinho expressed disbelief that a suspension with significant consequences for the club’s domestic campaign had been communicated so shortly before kick-off.

“Do you think it’s normal that a player from a Spanish team, who has to play a match that is also important for Spanish football, that two hours before the match a player knows he’s been given a four-match suspension?” Mourinho asked.

The Portuguese manager described the timing as a lack of respect and questioned why the authorities could not have announced the decision after the Champions League fixture.

“They do things shamelessly now. The cat is out of the bag now. Two hours before the match, a player must know he has a four-match suspension,” he said.

The punishment is a significant setback for Real Madrid, particularly with a crucial run of La Liga fixtures approaching. According to the report, Vinícius is expected to miss the highly anticipated El Clásico against Barcelona, who hold a six-point advantage over Madrid at the top of the table.

Beyond the suspension, Mourinho also questioned the scheduling of Real Madrid’s forthcoming matches, arguing that the demands placed on players could affect their recovery and preparation.

Madrid are scheduled to travel to Athens to face AEK Athens on November 4 before returning to domestic action against Valencia on November 7. Mourinho expressed concern about the short turnaround between the European fixture and the difficult away match in Spain.

“At the very least, a lack of respect,” he said when asked what the timing of the suspension announcement suggested.

He also rejected explanations that television scheduling was responsible for the Saturday fixture, insisting that modern football authorities should be able to organise competitions without placing unnecessary burdens on clubs.

Mourinho’s criticism reflects a wider debate in European football over fixture congestion, player welfare and the relationship between domestic authorities, broadcasters and clubs competing across multiple competitions.

Despite his frustration off the pitch, the manager had reason to celebrate after his team’s remarkable recovery against Roma.

Real Madrid had struggled for much of the contest, with Donyell Malen scoring twice to help Roma establish a 3-1 lead early in the second half. However, Mourinho’s substitutions transformed the closing stages, with Endrick and Carlos Espi among the substitutes who scored, while Arda Güler supplied two assists.

Mourinho admitted that the comeback was not the result of a pre-planned script but said he believed his substitutes could change the course of the match.

“I’m not going to be a genius and say I had prepared everything for a 3-1 to 4-3 victory, it’s not true,” he said. “But I genuinely thought that in the last 20 minutes I had substitutions I could make, and I had substitutions that could change things.”

The victory provided a memorable European night for Madrid, but Mourinho’s comments ensured that attention also turned to the disciplinary decision and the demands of the club’s congested fixture schedule.