Five supporters from Valladolid received a one-year prison sentence and a fine of 1,837 dollars for racially abusing Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior in 2022.
This represents the initial judgement in Spain categorizing such racist remarks in soccer venues as a form of hate crime, according to the league’s announcement on Wednesday.
A Valladolid court found these fans guilty for their remarks during a league game, imposing a one-year prison term along with a financial penalty of up to 1,620 euros.
However, the prison sentence is suspended provided they do not engage in any unlawful acts or attend official national soccer events for the next three years.
The league described Wednesday’s ruling as “a significant advancement towards eliminating racism within sports.”
“This legal verdict signifies a groundbreaking achievement in the battle against racism in sports within Spain,” stated the league.
Related Articles:
- Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe penalties secure Real Madrid’s gritty 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad
- Real Madrid reach Copa del Rey finals beating Sociedad on 5-4 aggregate
- Real Madrid crush RB Salzburg 5-1 to keep UEFA dream alive
Many anticipated that Brazilian player Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid would secure the Ballon D’Or prize this week, leading to backlash when he did not. TNT Sports Brazil reporter Fred Caldeira joined World Sport’s Don Riddell to analyze the reaction.
Last year, three fans from Valencia received eight-month prison sentences after admitting to racially insulting Vinícius.
This marked the first conviction related to racism issues in professional soccer in Spain, although it was not classified as a hate crime. The Valencia fans were found guilty of violating moral integrity, with the aggravating factor of discrimination grounded in racial bias.
“The explicit mention of hate crimes in this ruling tied to racist insults emphasizes that intolerance has no place in football,” the league noted.
The league initiated the complaint against the Valladolid supporters and was subsequently joined in the proceedings by the player, Real Madrid, and the public prosecutor’s office.
