Three Valencia fans have been given eight-month prison sentences for insulting Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior with racist remarks. This is the first time in Spain that fans have been convicted for racism in professional soccer.
The fans, who have not been named, are also banned from entering soccer stadiums for two years and must pay all court costs. They were arrested after a match between Real Madrid and Valencia in May 2023 when Vinícius was insulted, causing the game to briefly stop.
The incident led to widespread support for Vinícius, who is Black, and increased calls for action against racism in Spanish soccer. Despite this, he continued to face racist abuse for months afterward.
The court found the fans guilty of a crime against moral integrity, with the aggravating factor of discrimination based on racist motives. The case was brought by the Spanish league, along with the Spanish soccer federation, Real Madrid, and Vinícius.
Vinícius has spoken out about the racism he has experienced in Spain, saying it has made him lose his passion for the game. He has filed numerous complaints, but no one had been punished until now.
Valencia had already banned the fans involved, but this is the first trial in Spain for racial abuse against a player, despite many similar cases in the past.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called for automatic forfeits for teams whose fans racially abuse players. Racism has been a long-standing issue in soccer, with incidents like this happening around the world.