The Madrid Provincial Court passed a guilty sentence to the four supporters who, in 2023, suspended a black inflatable doll, clad in Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr’s shirt, from a bridge, staging his hanging, on Monday. One of the defendants has been sentenced to one year and ten months in prison, and the rest to one year and two months in prison. The act was committed hours prior to the Copa del Rey quarter-final match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. The accused also had a huge banner at the site publicly declaring their hatred for Real Madrid, with the message, ‘Madrid hates Real.’
Vinicius Jr Targeted: Social Media Evidence and Court Admission
One of the offenders also announced his activities on social networking sites. The club reaffirmed that the defendants accepted their conduct, apologized publicly, and showed remorse. They have all been found guilty of a hate crime as well as another of threatening Vinicius Jr.
Additional Penalties and Restrictions
The defendants will also be asked to pay the fines charged, will be prohibited from practicing education and sports-related professions for three additional years, and have been prohibited from getting near Vinicius Jr. within 1,000 meters or from talking to him in any manner for four years.
In addition, the four offenders will be prohibited from attending or entering any football stadium during sporting events for this duration and must undergo a training course in equal treatment and non-discrimination.
Real Madrid Responds to Vinicius Jr Hate Crime Verdict
“This criminal sentence adds to the several already handed down in recent months for racist insults received by Real Madrid CF players at the Zorrilla (Valladolid), Mestalla (Valencia), Son Moix (Palma de Mallorca), and Vallecas (Madrid) stadiums, including on digital forums. In total, fourteen people have now been criminally convicted for racist attacks against our club’s players,” read the statement by the club.