Four individuals receive suspended prison terms for creating and displaying effigy of soccer player Vinicius Jr.
Four Atletico Madrid Fans Get Suspended Sentences for Hate Crime Against Vinicius Jr
Talking about the recent developments in the world of football, let's dive into a controversial incident that has shaken the Spanish football scene.
A Madrid court has handed out suspended jail sentences to four individuals, identified as Atletico Madrid ultras, for their involvement in a hate crime. The incident revolves around an inflatable black effigy in the likeness of Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr and a "Madrid hates Real" banner that were displayed on a bridge prior to a Copa del Rey match against Atletico Madrid in January 2023[2].
The court's ruling states that the prime offender, who shared the incident online, was sentenced to a combined term of 22 months - 15 for the hate crime and an additional seven for threatening behavior[2]. The remaining three offenders were sentenced to 14 months each, again split between hate crimes and threats[2]. However, the quartet won't be serving time in prison as they all signed a letter of apology addressed to Vinicius, Real Madrid, LaLiga, and the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF)[3].
The convicted individual who distributed the offensive images online was also banned from working in education, sports, or recreational youth settings for a considerable period[3]. The others received a somewhat shorter ban[3]. Each offender was fined, with the primary offender facing a €1,084 penalty, and the rest, €720 each[3].
Additionally, the offenders are under a 1000-meter restraining order from Vinicius, his residence, workplaces, and soccer stadiums during LaLiga or RFEF matches[3]. They are also required to attend an educational program on equal treatment and non-discrimination to have their suspended sentences suspended[3].
Real Madrid has shared the news of this criminal conviction, stating that 14 individuals have now been convicted for racist attacks against their players[4]. In an effort to combat racism in football, they vow to continue their efforts in eradicating the ugly phenomenon from the sport[4].
This incident is just one of several racist abuse cases recently documented against Real Madrid players at various stadiums, including the Zorrilla (Valladolid), Mestalla (Valencia), Son Moix (Palma de Mallorca), and Vallecas (Mad Madrid) stadiums, as well as on online platforms[4].
Vinicius, who has been targeted by racial abuse on several occasions in Spain, spoke about the issue last year while finishing second in the voting for the Ballon D'Or. He revealed that he would continue his fight against racism, even if his activism impacted his chances of winning the prestigious individual award[5].
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story and the ongoing fight against racism in football.
[1] From the enrichment data, we can infer that the accused are known as Atletico Madrid ultras. Spain's hate crime laws have been applied in this situation, and the court imposed suspended sentences on the individuals, but the exact details of the sentences were not mentioned in the provided source.
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The suspended jail sentences handed out to the Atletico Madrid ultras, involved in a hate crime against Vinicius Jr, also reflect the club's and LaLiga's 'sports-analysis' approaches towards addressing racism.
In light of the recent developments in the world of 'general-news', including the crime-and-justice aspect surrounding the incident, it is crucial to acknowledge the severity of such hate crimes and the subsequent consequences they incur, as demonstrated in this case.
