Perpetrators receive bans of up to four years and three months; formal apologies addressed to Vinicius, Real Madrid, La Liga and the Spanish football federation
Four individuals have received suspended prison sentences from a Madrid court after being found guilty of hate crimes and threats, in connection with the public display of a racist effigy targeting Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior.
The case is from a disturbing incident in January 2023 ahead of a Copa del Rey clash between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, when an inflatable black figure wearing Vinicius’s No 20 shirt was hung from a bridge alongside a banner reading “Madrid hates Real”.
One of the offenders, who filmed and shared the act online, was handed a 15-month sentence for hate crimes and an additional seven months for threats. The other three were each sentenced to seven months for hate crimes and seven more for threats.
However, since the sentences are suspended, none will serve time behind bars.
The defenders have signed formal apologies addressed to Vinicius, Real Madrid, La Liga and the Spanish football federation.
As part of their punishment the first defendant, who posted the video online, has been barred from working in educational, sports or youth-related environments for four years and three months. The other three received similar bans for three years and seven months.
Additionally, all four are required to stay at least 1,000 metres away from the player’s residence, workplace and any football stadium during official matches.
They must also complete an educational programme on equality and anti-discrimination to maintain their suspended sentence status. The lead defendant was fined €1,084 while the other three were fined €720.
The court made it clear that non-compliance would end the suspension of their sentence and lead to imprisonment.
