MADRID-. A Spanish court sentenced the fan who used racist insults to one year in suspended prison. Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid and Samuel Chukwueze of Villarreal.
Real Madrid reported on Thursday about the sentence issued by an investigative court in Palma de Mallorca.
The incidents occurred at the Mallorca stadium during two matches at the beginning of 2023, when the accused insulted both black footballers from the stands.
According to Madrid, the accused “was found guilty of two crimes against moral integrity, aggravated by having acted with racist motivations” against Vinicius and then towards Samu Chukwueze, who then played for Villarreal and now plays for AC Milan, two weeks later.
The fan will also not be able to access football stadiums where matches organized by the Spanish League or the Royal Spanish Football Federation are played for three years.
The sentence was suspended after the accused showed remorse, apologized to Vinicius through a letter he addressed to the Brazilian attacker and completed an equal treatment and non-discrimination program.
The press office of the courts of justice of the Balearic Islands did not immediately publish the ruling after being requested by The Associated Press.
Vinicius has been the victim of a series of racist insults since joining Real Madrid in 2018. He recently said that Spain should not host the 2030 World Cup if the country does not evolve with racism in football.
In June, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for chanting racist songs against the Brazilian star. It was the first conviction for cases of racism in professional football in Spain.
