A Mallorca football fan was sentenced to a year in prison and given a three-year stadium ban for racially abusing Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and former Villarreal player Samuel Chukwueze. The supporter was found guilty of two crimes against moral integrity aggravated by racist motives. The incidents occurred during a La Liga match in February 2023 and a fortnight later at separate games where the fan insulted the players.
Real Madrid stated that the fan’s prison sentence was suspended after he apologized and showed remorse, including completing an equality and anti-discrimination program. This is the third criminal conviction for racist insults against Real Madrid players, particularly Vinicius, who has faced numerous instances of abuse since arriving in Spain in 2018. In June, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for racist insults directed at Vinicius during a match in May 2023.
These incidents have sparked international outrage and raised concerns about racism in Spanish football stadiums. Real Madrid also announced that a minor who racially abused midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni had been banned from stadiums for a year. The minor apologized and agreed to complete socio-educational activities as proposed by prosecutors. Vinicius Junior has called for Spain to be stripped of its hosting duties for the 2030 World Cup unless progress is made on addressing racism in stadiums.
Real Madrid is set to play Atletico Madrid in a derby match at the Metropolitano Stadium, where Vinicius has been a victim of racial abuse several times. The ongoing issue of racism in Spanish football has prompted calls for stricter punishments and increased efforts to combat discrimination in stadiums. These incidents serve as a reminder of the importance of promoting equality and respect in sports, and the need for continued action to eradicate racism from the game.
