Three Valencia fans sentenced for racial abuse of Vinicius Jr

Three Valencia fans were sentenced to jail for racially abusing Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. during a La Liga match. The original sentence was reduced to eight months after an agreement. They are banned from entering any football stadium hosting La Liga or Spanish Football Federation matches for two years. The ruling is the first of its kind by Spanish criminal courts.

Zor

June 11, 2024

In a landmark ruling, three Valencia fans have been sentenced to jail for racially abusing Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. during a La Liga match at Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium on May 21, 2023. The fans were found guilty of a “crime against moral integrity” with “aggravating circumstances of discrimination based on racist motives.”

Originally sentenced to 12 months, their jail term was reduced to eight months after an agreement during the preliminary investigation. Additionally, they are banned from entering any football stadium hosting La Liga or Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) matches for two years. Vinicius Jr., along with LaLiga, Real Madrid, and RFEF, brought the case to court. LaLiga president Javier Tebas hailed the ruling as a significant step in combating racism in Spain, stating it sends a clear message that such behavior will have criminal consequences.

Real Madrid released a statement acknowledging the fans’ acceptance of their responsibility and their public apology. The club emphasized its commitment to eradicating racist behavior in football and maintaining its values. This ruling marks the first conviction of its kind by Spanish criminal courts, highlighting the country’s judicial integrity in addressing racism.

BREAKING: Three Valencia fans have been jailed for eight months for abusing Vinicius Jr during a La Liga game in May 2023. This the first criminal conviction for racist abuse of a footballer in Spain 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Sw6kIbR2ch

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 10, 2024