The Second Section of the Provincial Court of Valladolid has convicted five individuals for directing racist abuse at Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr. during a match against Real Valladolid at José Zorrilla Stadium on December 30, 2022.
The court found the defendants guilty on five counts of hate speech, sentencing each to a one-year prison term, suspended on the condition they avoid football stadiums hosting competitive events for three years and issue a written apology expressing remorse to Vinicius Jr.
The court also imposed fines ranging from €1,080 to €1,620, a one-year suspension of voting rights, and a ban of up to four years from working in educational, teaching, sporting, or leisure fields. This ruling follows a series of convictions for racist abuse targeting Real Madrid players at stadiums in Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, and Madrid, as well as on digital platforms.
The club, acting as a private prosecutor alongside Vinicius Jr., emphasized the significance of these hate crime convictions in recognizing the offensive nature of such conduct.
Real Madrid reaffirmed its commitment to combating racism in football, vowing to continue legal action in similar cases to uphold the club’s values and eradicate discriminatory behavior from the sport.