Four men were jailed for a hate crime after hanging a effigy of Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr from a bridge in a racist act before a Madrid derby.

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• Four men jailed for racist stunt
• Main offender gets 22-month sentence
• Apology letters sent to Vinicius and La Liga

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  In January 2023, hours before a Copa del Rey clash between Madrid and Atletico, a racist stunt shocked Spanish football, a dummy wearing Vinicius Jr’s shirt was hung from a bridge. The act was reported immediately, and legal proceedings began.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Now, according to , over two-and-a-half years later, the Madrid court has sentenced four men for hate crimes and threats. La Liga, Real Madrid, and Spanish authorities have come under fire in the past for not taking racism seriously. This ruling is a landmark in showing zero tolerance for hate and violence in football culture.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  All four offenders are banned from football stadiums for four years and the main offender got 15 months for hate crime, seven months for threats and a €1,804 fine. Three other suspects were sentenced to seven months in prison for hate crimes and a further seven for threats and a fine of €720 each. They must stay 1,000 metres away from Vinicius. Apology letters were sent to the player, Real Madrid, La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the offenders must complete an anti-discrimination education program.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  La Liga called this a “firm step” in the fight against racism and promised to keep pushing for legal consequences in such cases. The verdict sends a clear message to fans and players that racist behaviour will no longer go unchecked.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News