In a landmark ruling that resonates beyond the football pitch, three Valencia fans have been sentenced to eight months in prison for racially abusing Real Madrid’s star forward, Vinicius Junior, at Mestalla Stadium.
This decision marks the first conviction for racism-related cases in professional soccer in Spain.
During a La Liga match in May 2023, Vinicius Junior was subjected to racist chants and gestures from the crowd, which included imitating monkey movements and making derogatory comments about his skin color.
The incident not only caused a brief stoppage of the match but also sparked an outpouring of support for Vinicius and widespread calls for action against racism in Spanish football.
Vinicius Junior, in a heartfelt press conference, opened up about the emotional toll the abuse has taken on him.
“It’s something very sad what I have been going through here,” he said, fighting back tears. “It’s tough. I’ve been fighting against this for a long time. It’s exhausting because you feel like you are alone. I’ve made so many official complaints but no one is ever punished”.
His words highlighted the struggle many players face when confronting racism in the sport.
Muitos pediram para que eu ignorasse, outros tantos disseram que minha luta era em vão e que eu deveria apenas "jogar futebol".
Mas, como sempre disse, não sou vítima de racismo. Eu sou algoz de racistas. Essa primeira condenação penal da história da Espanha não é por mim. É por… https://t.co/NdezpJBjF2
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) June 10, 2024
The sentencing of the three fans is a significant step in the fight against racism in football. Not only does it serve as a deterrent to future incidents, but it also sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.
The fans, who pleaded guilty, will also be banned from entering football stadiums for two years and will have to pay for all the court proceedings.
This case could be a turning point in the ongoing battle against racism in football. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has advocated for automatic forfeits for teams whose fans racially abuse opposition players, and this conviction aligns with the growing intolerance for racism in the sport1.
