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June 11, 2024
Three supporters of Valencia who had insulted Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior in a racist manner on Monday were sentenced to eight months in prison. At the Mestalla Stadium during a La Liga match between Real Madrid and Valencia in May 2023, three people were found guilty of directing racist chants and insults towards the Brazilian player.
Three Valencia supporters who had made racist remarks about Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior have been sentenced to eight months in prison and two years of stadium bans.
“This first criminal conviction in the history of Spain is not for me. It’s for all black people,” the 24-year-old said in response.
The incident happened during a May 2023 Real Madrid and Valencia play in La Liga at Mestalla Stadium. The Brazilian target of taunts caused the game to be temporarily stopped.
Following their Monday court appearance, the three fans—whose names were withheld—were found guilty of a crime against moral integrity with “aggravating circumstance of discrimination based on racist motives.”
Due to a principle that sees lighter sentences for defendants who admit guilt, their original 12-month sentence was reduced by a third to eight months in prison.
“The ruling handed down today, which is final, establishes as proven that the three defendants insulted Vinicius with shouts, gestures and chants referring to the colour of his skin,” the court said in a statement.
“These shouts and gestures of a racist nature, consisting among other things in the repetition of the sounds and imitating the movements of monkeys, caused the footballer feelings of frustration, shame, and humiliation, with the consequent undermining of his intrinsic dignity.”
The convictions are the first for racist abuse at a football match in Spain. They are “great news regarding the fight against racism in Spain,” according to La Liga president Javier Tebas.
In 2023, La Liga received reports of ten instances of racist abuse directed towards the player. Vinicius broke down in tears during a press conference in March of this year, expressing that he feels the ongoing racist abuse is taking away from his desire to play football.
International support for the Valencia incident was overwhelming, and calls for action by Spanish authorities were made. Vinicius made a statement after the game, stating “racism is normal in La Liga.”
In a tweet posted on Monday following the conviction, Vinicius said: “Many asked me to ignore it, many others said that my fight was in vain and that I should just “play football.”
“But, as I’ve always said, I’m not a victim of racism. I am a tormentor of racists. This first criminal conviction in the history of Spain is not for me. It’s for all black people.
“May other racists be afraid, ashamed, and hide in the shadows. Otherwise, I’ll be here to collect. Thank you to La Liga and Real Madrid for helping with this historic conviction. More to come…”
The attorneys for the defendants asked that the sentences be suspended, which is standard procedure in Spain for terms shorter than two years. The judge did not deny the request; they will decide on it later.
“This ruling is great news regarding the fight against racism in Spain,” La Liga president Javier Tebas said. “It redresses the wrong suffered by Vinicius Junior and sends a clear message to those people who go to a football stadium to hurl abuse. La Liga will identify and report them, and they will have criminal consequences.
“I understand that there may be some frustration at the length of time it takes for these sentences to be handed down, but this shows that Spain is a country that guarantees judicial integrity. La Liga can only respect the pace of justice, and once again demand that Spanish legislation evolves so that La Liga has sanctioning powers that can speed up the fight against racism.”
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Latest Football News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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