Fan Sentenced to Prison for Racist Abuse of Vinicius and Chukwueze
A fan who racially abused Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. and Chukwueze in Spain has been sentenced to one year in prison.
In Spain’s top football league (La Liga), a fan who directed racist insults at Black footballers Vinicius Jr. and Samuel Chukwueze from the stands has received a total of one year in prison.
This is the second prison sentence given as part of legal actions taken against the increasing racist remarks in Spanish football. The Palma de Mallorca 3rd Administrative Court concluded the case of a fan who racially abused Vinicius Jr. and Samuel Chukwueze (who played for Villarreal at the time and now plays for Milan) during two separate matches held in Mallorca on February 5 and 18, 2023.
The court sentenced the fan to six months in prison for each racist insult, totaling one year. Additionally, the fan received a three-year stadium ban and was fined by the State Commission Against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance in Sport.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Spain’s first prison sentence related to racism in football was handed down last June, also involving Vinicius.
In a case stemming from the Valencia-Real Madrid match played on May 21, 2023, where racist insults were directed at Vinicius from the stands, the court sentenced three fans to eight months in prison, a two-year ban from entering stadiums, and ordered them to cover legal fees.
Meanwhile, La Liga President Javier Tebas commented on social media following the recent verdict, stating, “This is the result of our efforts in recent years to eradicate hatred from our football. We will continue. Racist chants and insults will not disappear from stadiums without criminal convictions.”
