RB Leipzig Players Blast Referee for Allowing Real Star Escape Red Card After Neck Shoving

RB Leipzig Players Criticize Referee for Failing to Issue Red Card to Vinicius After Neck Incident

During their recent round of 16 return leg match against Real Madrid, RB Leipzig's Willi Orban and Benjamin Henrichs expressed their disappointment with the officiating following a contentious incident.

Despite trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Leipzig held onto hope for a comeback as they faced Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, their hopes were dashed when Vinicius Junior scored, putting Madrid 2-0 up on aggregate. Orban managed to bring Leipzig level shortly after, setting the stage for a tense finale.

Despite their commendable performance, Leipzig's players were dissatisfied with both the officiating and Vinicius's conduct. The Brazilian winger narrowly avoided a red card after appearing to grab Orban's neck during an altercation. Referee Davide Massa opted for a yellow card, a decision that stood even after a VAR review, much to Leipzig's frustration.

Following the match, Orban and Henrichs criticized the officials for what they perceived as biased decisions. Henrichs remarked that had it been a Leipzig player in Vinicius's position, they would have undoubtedly been sent off. Orban echoed this sentiment, stating that the referees lacked the courage to discipline players like Vinicius, labeling his actions as disrespectful.

This incident adds to previous controversies involving Vinicius, including his gesture towards Barcelona fans during a Spanish Cup match. Despite criticism from neutral observers, Vinicius remains unfazed by the backlash.