Four Spanish Fans Slapped with Sentences for Hateful Stunts Against Vinicius Junior
Four individuals convicted for committing hate-related offenses, now facing incarceration
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Hearing the whispers of racism, a Spanish court has put four soccer fans in their place. These blokes made a nasty spectacle out of Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid's star player, by hanging a mannequin in his jersey from a bridge, just before the derby against Atlético in January 2023. To add insult to injury, a banner saying "Madrid hates Real" was hung under it.
These guys have some serious explaining to do! The main offender is looking at a total of 22 months behind bars. Why, you ask? Well, he was not only found guilty of a hate crime, but also for distributing images of the act online. The other three men were each sentenced to 14 months. To keep them from stirring up more trouble, they'll have to complete an anti-discrimination program and abide by the sentence.
La Liga made the announcement, explaining that one defendant received a 15-month sentence for a hate crime under Article 510 of the Spanish Criminal Code. Add another seven months for threats and disseminating those pictures, and you've got quite the hefty punishment. The rest of the lads received 7 months each for their parts in the hate crime and threats[1].
Now, let's talk about the financial consequences. The main offender has to fork over €1,084, while the others had to pay €720 each. But that's not all. These blokes can't go anywhere near Vinicius, his residence, or Real Madrid's training ground. They have to stay at least 1000 meters away, and they're banned from attending RFEF-organized games, including reserves and women's teams. To add insult to injury, they're also prohibited from communicating with the victim for four years after their sentences end[1].
Interestingly, all defendants penned a letter of apology to Vinicius, Real Madrid, La Liga, and the federation. This gesture led to a reduction in their sentences. Vinicius has been dealing with racist slurs for a while now. In September, an individual was sentenced to a 12-month suspended sentence for an incident during a game on February 5, 2023[1].
Sources: ntv.de, dbe/sid
- Racism
- Soccer
- Football
- Spain
- Judgments
- La Liga
[1] Enrichment Data: Here are the specifics:
- Sentences: The sentences for the four defendants ranged from 14 to 22 months in prison for hate crimes, threats, and spreading hateful images against Vinícius Júnior. One defendant was sentenced to 15 months for a hate crime under Article 510 of the Spanish Penal Code, and an additional seven months for making threats and sharing images online[1].
- Fines and Additional Measures: Fines for the defendants ranged from €720 to €1,084, and all were subject to a restraining order keeping them at least 1,000 meters away from Vinícius, his residence, or Real Madrid's Valdebebas Training Ground[1].
- Incident Context: The charges stem from an incident where a doll wearing Vinícius's Real Madrid shirt was hung from a bridge, accompanied by a banner reading "Madrid hates Real," prior to a Copa del Rey match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid in January 2023[1].
- Legal Proceedings: LaLiga made a complaint, leading to four arrests in 2023. The guilty verdicts were handed down by a court in Madrid, emphasizing the gravity of hate crimes and threats in Spanish law[1].
- The community policy in Spain, in light of the recent hate crime against Real Madrid's star player Vinicius Junior, should include stricter regulations on online image sharing and distribution, as one of the defendants was penalized for this act.
- Under the employment policy, these soccer fans, convicted of a hate crime against Vinicius Junior, will be required to complete an anti-discrimination program and abide by their sentences to ensure they do not engage in similar activities in the future, potentially impacting their jobs and public standing as football fans.
