Valencia fans who insulted Vinícius are first to be convicted for racism abuse in Spanish soccer
Three Valencia fans have been handed eight-month prison sentences after pleading guilty to racially insulting Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior
By Tales Azzoni
Published - Jun 10, 2024, 11:03 AM ET
Last Updated - Jun 10, 2024, 11:03 AM EDT
MADRID (AP) — Three Valencia fans have been handed eight-month prison sentences after pleading guilty to racially insulting Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior in the first conviction for racism-related cases in professional soccer in Spain.
The fans, whose names were not released, won't be allowed to enter soccer stadiums for two years and will have to pay for the court proceedings.
They were detained after a Spanish league match between Real Madrid and Valencia at Mestalla Stadium in May 2023. The match was briefly stopped after Vinícius was insulted.
That incident sparked an outpouring of support for Vinícius, who is Black, and set off widespread calls for action by Spanish authorities and society in general.
