Four individuals have received suspended prison sentences for a hate crime against Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr., a Spanish court announced today, June 16, 2025.
The convictions stem from a January 2023 incident where an inflatable effigy of Vinicius Jr. was hung from a bridge near Real Madrid’s training ground.
Three defendants received 14-month suspended sentences, while a fourth received 22 months for also distributing images online.
The sentences were suspended after the four issued apologies to Vinicius Jr., Real Madrid, La Liga, and the Spanish Football Federation.
The ruling also includes a restraining order preventing them from approaching Vinicius Jr. or Real Madrid’s training ground, and a ban from all La Liga and Spain national team matches.
This brings the total number of convictions for racist attacks against Real Madrid players to 14. Real Madrid stated its continued commitment to eradicating racist behavior in football.
Vinicius Jr., who has frequently been targeted by racist abuse since joining Real Madrid in 2018, has been a vocal advocate against such acts. This verdict marks a significant step in Spain’s efforts to combat discrimination in sports.
