Valencia fans who racially abused Vinícius Júnior have been sentenced to eight months in prison, marking a significant step forward in the fight against racism in football. The incident occurred during a match between Valencia and Real Madrid, where Vinícius Júnior was subjected to racist chants and gestures from the Valencia supporters.
Racism has no place in sports or any other aspect of society, and it is crucial that individuals who engage in such behavior are held accountable for their actions. The sentencing of these Valencia fans sends a clear message that racist abuse will not be tolerated, and that those responsible will face consequences for their discriminatory actions.
The Athletic previously reported that Spanish police had arrested three young people in connection with the alleged racist behaviour towards Vinicius Jr during Real Madrid’s La Liga fixture against Valencia.
It is the first conviction for racist insults in a football stadium in Spain. The individuals have also been banned from entering football stadiums hosting La Liga and RFEF matches for three years initially, reduced to two years for the same procedural reason, and have been ordered to cover the costs of the legal proceedings.
They also received a three-year stadium ban, reduced to two years for the same reason, and will have to pay costs.
"Many people asked me to ignore it, others said that my fight was in vain and that I should just 'play football'," Vinícius said in a post on X.
"But, as I've always said, I'm not a victim of racism. I am an executioner of racists. This first criminal conviction in Spanish history is not for me. It's for all black people.
"Let the other racists be afraid, ashamed and hide in the shadows. Otherwise, I'll be here to call them out. Thank you to LaLiga and Real Madrid for helping to bring about this historic condemnation. There's more to come."
Lawyers for the defendants requested on Monday that their prison sentences be suspended -- a common practice in Spain for sentences under two years -- and prosecutors did not object.
On Monday, La Liga described the ruling as “great news”, and said it “sends a clear message to those people who go to a football stadium to insult that La Liga will identify them, report them and there will be criminal consequences”.
The conviction came after La Liga, Real Madrid and Vinícius brought the case to the court, it said in a statement. “This is the first conviction of its kind to be handed down in Spain.”
La Liga said it had repeatedly requested that Spanish law be amended to give the league power to sanction clubs, fans or players for hateful conduct, rather than rely solely on reporting such conduct to authorities. In the last two seasons, La Liga has reported 16 incidents of racist abuse against Vinícius to Spanish prosecutors.
It is crucial for authorities to continue to take a firm stance against racism in order to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for athletes of all backgrounds. By holding individuals accountable for their actions, we can work towards creating a more equitable society where everyone feels safe and respected.
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