Madrid, Spain – Four individuals have received suspended prison sentences after being convicted of hate crimes against Real Madrid forward Vinícius Jr. for hanging an inflatable effigy of the Brazilian star near the club’s training ground in January 2023.
The incident occurred before an Atletico Madrid Copa del Rey match at the Santiago Bernabéu, with the effigy displayed alongside a banner reading: “Madrid hates Real.”
Three defendants were given 14-month suspended sentences, while a fourth received 22 months for sharing images of the act online. The sentences were suspended after all four submitted a written apology to Vinícius, Real Madrid, La Liga, and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
As part of the ruling, the group is banned from approaching within 1 kilometer of Vinícius, his home, or Real Madrid’s training facilities. They are also prohibited from attending any La Liga or Spain national team matches.
History of Abuse Against Vinícius
The 24-year-old winger has faced repeated racial abuse since joining Real Madrid in 2018. In September 2022, Atletico fans directed racist chants at him during a league match. Later that month, five people were handed suspended sentences for similar offenses during a game against Real Valladolid.
Just weeks before the effigy incident, Vinícius had publicly called on La Liga to take stronger action against racism, demanding lifetime bans for offenders.
Ongoing Fight Against Racism
The case highlights Spain’s struggle to combat racism in football, despite increased legal consequences. Vinícius, who has made 316 appearances for Madrid, has been vocal in condemning discrimination, urging authorities to enforce stricter punishments.
La Liga has since introduced tougher anti-racism measures, including stadium bans and criminal complaints against offenders. However, activists argue more systemic change is needed to eradicate abuse from the sport.
With Vinícius set to continue his career in Spain, the ruling serves as a warning—but the fight against racism in football remains far from over.
