In one match in a landmark ruling in Spain, five people were sentenced to prison for racial abuse of Real Madrid striker Vinicius Jr to condemn racist insults to football stadiums in a hate crime.
On December 30, 2022, Brazil International Vinicius suffered abuse from Real Valladolid in Real Madrid's 2-0 victory as he walked past fans after being replaced at the Jose Zorrilla stadium.
The Valadolid Provincial Court jailed five offenders on Wednesday, fined from €1,080 ($1,226.12) to €1,620 ($1,836).
Prison sentences were suspended because they did not commit any crimes for the next three years and were not allowed to participate in any competition during the same period.
"The effort filed a complaint and initially acted as the sole private prosecution - later joined by players Vinicius and Real Madrid and Real Madrid, as well as the prosecutor's office - this model has been achieved," La Liga said in a statement.
“This judicial ruling represents an unprecedented milestone in the struggle against racism in Spanish sport, and until now, the ruling addresses behavior against moral integrity with a racially intensified factor.
“This ruling explicitly refers to the fact that hate crimes related to racist insults exacerbates the message that intolerance has no place in football.”
The prison sentence for nonviolent crime in Spain is less than two years, so the defendants are rarely needed without previous convictions.
In June, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for insulting Vinicius, with “yelling, gestures and hymns, referring to his skin color.”
In September, a fan was found guilty of racial abuse in Mallorca in 2023 and sentenced to moratorium on sentences to a moratorium on Vinicius and Villarreal player Samuel Chukwueze in two games.
The invaders were suspended for a 12-month sentence and banned by the stadium for three years after apologizing and receiving anti-discrimination training in a letter to Vinicius.