Staff Reporter.
A Spanish court has convicted four people who hung an effigy of Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior off a highway bridge two years ago, shortly before Atletico Madrid’s Copa Del Rey match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, LaLiga have said.
A banner above the effigy read: “Madrid hates Real”.
Three of the group were sentenced to 14 months in prison, while one was given a 22-month sentence for distributing images of the act online.
The defendant who posted the video online received a special disqualification from working in education, sports, or recreational youth settings for four years and three months, while the others received three years and seven months,” a La Laliga statement said.
However, the sentences have been suspended after all four signed a letter of apology to the Brazil international, Madrid, La Liga and the Spanish football federation (Rfef).
The sentence included a restraining order preventing the quartet from coming within 1km of Vinicius, his home or Real Madrid’s training ground, as well as a blanket ban on attending La Liga or Spain national team matches.
According to Real Madrid, 14 people have now been convicted of racist attacks against the club’s players.
“This criminal conviction comes in addition to the several already handed down in recent months for racist insults received by Real Madrid players at the stadiums in Valladolid, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca and Madrid,” the club said in a statement.
“Real Madrid have joined its player in prosecuting this case, and in many others currently underway, and will continue to work to protect the values of our club and to eradicate any racist behaviour in the world of football and sport.”
Vinicius Jr has regularly been the victim of racial abuse since joining Real Madrid in 2018 from Flamengo.
The Brazilian, who has made 316 appearances for the club, was subject to racist chanting by Atletico fans during a La Liga match in September 2022.