Vinícius Júnior has accused referees of treating him unfairly and called for greater protection for attacking players, speaking after Real Madrid’s 4-3 Champions League comeback win at Roma. The Brazilian forward’s comments, carried by Al Jazeera from an Associated Press report, came hours after he received a four-match La Liga suspension.

He named Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez among the players he believes should be protected. The suspension will keep Vinícius out of league fixtures against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia.

The sanction followed Vinícius being sent off after pulling an opponent’s hair and protesting against the referee. He said he was surprised by the length of the ban and denied using offensive language towards the official.

Real Madrid coach José Mourinho also objected to the timing of the announcement, saying the team learned of the suspension on its way to the stadium before the Roma match. His complaint focused on the decision reaching Vinícius about two hours before kick-off.

Vinícius said he understood opposing supporters jeering him because he tries to score against their teams, but said he did not understand the referees’ approach. He argued that attacking players are booked despite taking repeated fouls.

Vinícius said he had seen statistics showing that he had received 500 fouls but that only five red cards had resulted. He argued that yellow cards often go to attacking players and said players who bring something different to the game, including Yamal and Álvarez, need protection. He also said defenders are allowed to foul him throughout a match while he receives the card.

He also said that, when it comes to Vini, it is all too easy, describing a disparity between the treatment he receives and the fouls he believes opponents commit against him. His appeal was not limited to his own case: he specifically included Yamal and Álvarez in his call for protection.

Mourinho questioned whether it was normal for a player preparing for an important match to learn of a four-game suspension only two hours before kick-off. “We were on the bus about to arrive at the stadium when we found out,” he said.