Spanish Judgment: Four Convicted for Hate Crimes Against Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr.
Say Goodbye to the Bullies in Your Stand!
Convicted individuals served prison terms for committing hate crimes, in this case, their actions targeted fellow fans.
The Spanish justice system isn't messing around when it comes to hate crimes and racism, especially on the football field. Four fans have learned that lesson the hard way after terrorizing Real Madrid's star, Vinicius Junior.
The troublemakers had the rotten idea to hang a mannequin in Vinicius' jersey from a bridge before the derby against Atlético in January 2023. The bridge used to be a testing ground for bullies, but not anymore. A banner with the message "Madrid hates Real" didn't help their cause either.
The court in Madrid didn't take this lying down. The main bastard was given a total of 22 months in prison for distributing images of the perfect storm online. The other three were handed 14 months each. But they ain't outta the woods yet! These bigoted buffoons have to complete an anti-discrimination program to kiss the jailhouse goodbye.
Real Madrid Fans Show Zero Tolerance
La Liga announced that the main defendant was sentenced to 15 months in prison for a hate crime (Article 510 of the Spanish Criminal Code) and an additional seven months for spreading the incident's impact online. The fines ranged from 720 to 1084 euros for them all.
As punishment, the four must stay 1000 meters away from Vinicius, demonic possession styles notwithstanding. They also can't go near Real's training facilities and won't be attending any RFEF-organized games, ladies' nights included. They're even banned from texting, calling, or sending a hatemail to Vinicius for four years, long enough to forget he exists.
Vinicius has been dealing with racist slurs for quite some time. In September, a court in Palma de Mallorca handed a suspended sentence to an individual for the same antics. The incident took place on February 5, 2023, during a RCD Mallorca vs. Royals match.
- Racism
- Football
- Spain
- Hatemail
- Sports Hooliganism
Source: ntv.de, dbe/sid
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Spain's Turning Point: A New Era Without Racism in Football?
Overview
Recent years have seen Spain tackle hate crimes and racism in football head-on, with Vinicius Junior as the prime target. The legal system is finally taking a more serious approach to these issues, moving away from previous lenient stances.
Key Developments
- A New Precedent: On May 21, 2025, the Provincial Court of Valladolid made waves by convicting five individuals for racist abuse aimed at Vinicius Junior during a Real Madrid vs. Real Valladolid game on December 30, 2022. This was the first instance of racist insults in a football stadium being classified as a hate crime[1][2].
- Severe Penalties: The offenders received suspended prison sentences of one year, fines ranging from €1,080 to €1,620, and a four-year ban from participating in educational, sports, or leisure activities. To avoid prison time, they must not commit any further offenses for three years and keep their distance from football stadiums during that period[1][2].
- Additional Convictions: In June 2025, four more fans were found guilty of similar hate crimes against Vinicius Junior. They faced similar penalties, including stadium bans and distancing orders[3][4].
Impact and Reactions
- Legal and Social Impact: These rulings mark a significant shift in how Spain's legal system tackles racism in sports. LaLiga and Real Madrid have been actively pushing for stronger measures against racist behavior[1][2].
- Player and Public Response: Vinicius Junior has been vocal about the need for harsher consequences for racist abuse, advocating for a no-tolerance policy in Spanish football. The recent convictions have been praised as a step towards eradicating the normalization of racist behavior in the sport[3][4].
Spain is now stepping up its game in dealing with hate crimes and racism in football, with new precedents set to crack down on such behavior. However, time will tell if these measures truly make a difference in the long run.
- Given the Spanish court's recent conviction of four individuals for hate crimes against Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr., it appears that Spain is taking a serious approach to address racism in football, with particular focus on enforcing article 510 of the Spanish Criminal Code against such actions.
- The high court sentences, including prison terms, fines, and bans from attending football matches and participating in sports events, suggest that Spain is setting a new era for football, aiming to eliminate racism and sports hooliganism through deterrent measures and education programs.
