In a landmark decision, five individuals have received suspended prison sentences for racially abusing Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr., marking the first time racist stadium insults have been condemned as a hate crime in Spain.
The Provincial Court of Valladolid sentenced the offenders to one year in prison, suspended for three years provided they commit no further offenses.
They are also banned from attending matches for the same period and face fines.
The abuse occurred in September 2022 during a Real Valladolid match.
La Liga, which pursued the case, hailed the ruling as an “unprecedented milestone” in the fight against racism in Spanish sport.
Vinicius Jr., a frequent target of racist abuse, previously stated, “I am a tormentor of racists.”
