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Adriana Garcia
Sep 26, 2024, 09:47 AM ET
A Mallorca fan who used racists insults against Real Madrid forward Vinícius Junior and Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze was handed a 12-month suspended sentence by a Spanish court on Thursday.
LaLigaReal Madrid and Villarreal filed a lawsuit against the supporter, who had racially insulted Vinícius during a league game in Son Moix on Feb. 5, 2023, and then Nigeria winger Chukwueze, a Villarreal player at the time, two weeks later.
A Mallorca court sentenced the defendant to a total of 12 months in prison, and banned him from football stadiums in Spain for three years after finding him guilty of two offences of infringing on moral integrity, aggravated by racist motives.
“The suspension of the prison sentence has been made after the defendant apologised and showed his remorse, with a letter addressed to Vinícius Júnior, having completed an equality and anti-discrimination program,” a Real Madrid statement said. “This is the third criminal conviction in recent months for racist abuse aimed at Real Madrid players.
“Real Madrid, who have been involved in the trials alongside their players as private prosecution, will continue working to uphold the values of our club and eradicate any racist conduct from the world of football or sport.”
Speaking to ESPN later on Thursday, LaLiga president Javier Tebas said he supported jail sentences for those convicted of racist abuse.
“This sentence is one of many that may come since we have some pending at the judicial level,” he said. “We are going to pursue them until the end. Those who shout or sing racist insults must be put in jail, we will accomplish that.”
He added: “The league and the clubs have worked together to obtain this conviction. We are present in all the matches and we check very carefully with the game authorities and people in charge of integrity issues. We have special cameras in the areas where we considered there is more risk for a racist chant or insult.
“We also must highlight the collaboration from the fans who help us identified those who shout racist remarks. It is one of the situations that has made the Vinícius case different. Before people did not point out; now they are doing it while saying that these people don’t belong in football.”
Vinícius has been a central figure in the battle against racism in football.
The Brazil forward has been subjected to racial abuse on numerous occasions since joining Madrid in 2018.
He gave a tearful news conference earlier this year when discussing the racist abuse directed toward him in Spain.
Chukwueze joined AC Milan in the summer of 2023 after five seasons at Villarreal.
Madrid also said in the statement that a minor who racially insulted their midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni during a league game at Mallorca on April 13, 2024 has been banned from football stadiums for one year.
In addition, he will pay a fine as stated by the country’s Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport.
The minor has apologised and shown remorse for his conduct, and he has agreed to complete socio-educational activities as proposed by Prosecutors.