Justice for Vinicius Junior as five people given prison sentences for racist abuse of Real Madrid star in 'milestone' ruling

The Brazil international appeared to receive racist abuse during a Madrid game against Real Valladolid at Jose Zorilla stadium in September 2022. BBC Sport states the Provincial Court of Valladolid gave the five offenders a one-year prison sentence, with a three-year suspended sentence. La Liga have described this as an "unprecedented milestone" in the fight against racism in sport in Spain.

La Liga said in a statement: "Thanks to the efforts of La Liga, which filed the complaint and initially acted as the sole private prosecution - later joined by the player Vinicius and Real Madrid, as well as the Public Prosecutor's Office - this exemplary ruling has been achieved. This judicial decision represents an unprecedented milestone in the fight against racism in sport in Spain, where, until now, rulings had addressed conduct against moral integrity with a racial aggravating factor. The fact that this ruling explicitly refers to hate crimes associated with racist insults reinforces the message that intolerance has no place in football."

Vinicius Jr has repeatedly been the subject of racist abuse by fans in Spain over the years, with the winger saying racism is "normal" in the country's top division. But according to La Liga, this ruling shows that racist insults in a football stadium have been condemned as a hate crime in Spain for the first time, and may cause culprits of such acts to think twice.

While Vinicius Jr prepares to play for Madrid in their final La Liga game of the season against Real Sociedad this weekend, the five offenders in the racism case are not allowed to attend any matches in the next three years.