Four individuals received suspended jail sentences on Monday after being convicted of hate crimes targeting Real Madrid’s star forward, Vinicius Jr.
The group was found guilty of hanging an inflatable effigy of the Brazilian player from a bridge near Real Madrid’s training ground in January 2023, an act that sparked widespread outrage.
The incident occurred just before a Copa del Rey match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
A banner displayed above the effigy bore the provocative message, “Madrid hates Real.”
The court handed down 14-month prison sentences to three of the perpetrators, while the fourth received a 22-month sentence for distributing images of the act online.
However, all sentences were suspended after the group issued a formal letter of apology to Vinicius Jr., Real Madrid, La Liga, and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
As part of the ruling, the four individuals are subject to a restraining order prohibiting them from approaching within 1 kilometer of Vinicius, his residence, or Real Madrid’s training facilities.
They are also banned from attending La Liga matches or any games involving the Spanish national team.
Vinicius Jr., 24, has faced repeated racial abuse since joining Real Madrid from Flamengo in 2018.
The forward, who has made 316 appearances for the club, was targeted with racist chanting by Atletico Madrid fans during a La Liga match in September 2022. Later that month, he endured similar abuse during a game against Real Valladolid, leading to five additional individuals receiving suspended sentences.
In December 2022, just weeks before the effigy incident, Vinicius publicly called on La Liga to impose stadium bans on those found guilty of racist behavior.
The case underscores ongoing concerns about racism in Spanish football, with authorities and La Liga facing pressure to implement stricter measures to protect players and curb discriminatory acts.