A Madrid court has handed down suspended jail sentences to four individuals found guilty of committing a hate crime against Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr, as announced by Spain’s LaLiga on Monday.
The defendants were involved in displaying a banner that read “Madrid hates Real” alongside an inflatable black effigy dressed in a replica of the Brazilian’s No. 20 shirt on a bridge prior to a Copa del Rey clash against Atletico Madrid in January 2023.
One of the individuals received a sentence of 15 months for the hate crime along with an additional seven months for making threats, attributed to their online distribution of images related to the incident. The remaining three received sentences of seven months each for similar hate crimes and threats.
Despite the sentences, none of the four will serve jail time, as they have all signed a letter of apology directed towards Vinicius, Real Madrid, LaLiga, and the Spanish football federation (RFEF).
“The individual who uploaded the video online was specifically disqualified from working in educational, sports, or youth recreational contexts for a period of four years and three months, while the other three face three years and seven months of disqualification,” read the LaLiga statement.
The first defendant was also fined €1,084 (approximately $1,250), while the others were imposed with a fine of €720 each. Additionally, they have been issued a restraining order preventing them from approaching Vinicius, his residence, and workplace, as well as a ban on attending football matches during LaLiga or RFEF events.
Participation in an educational program promoting equal treatment and non-discrimination is mandatory for the suspension of their prison sentences.
No immediate comments were released by the court, nor has there been a response from Vinicius regarding the verdict.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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