Suspended Sentences Given to Four Over Hate Crime Targeting Vinicius Jr.
Four men have received suspended jail terms after being found guilty of a hate crime involving Brazilian footballer Vinicius Jr. The incident, which sparked outrage across the football world, occurred in January 2023 when the group hung an inflatable doll resembling the Real Madrid winger from a bridge near the club’s training ground.
The disturbing display included a banner with the words “Madrid hates Real,” positioned just before a high-stakes Copa del Rey match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
The act was widely condemned, adding to the growing scrutiny of racist abuse Vinicius Jr. has faced since joining Real Madrid from Flamengo in 2018.
Three of the individuals were each sentenced to 14 months in prison, while a fourth received a 22-month term for sharing images of the effigy online. However, all sentences were suspended after the group signed an official apology addressed to Vinicius Jr., Real Madrid, La Liga, and the Spanish Football Federation.
As part of their punishment, the individuals must stay at least one kilometre away from Vinicius, his residence, and the Real Madrid training grounds. They are also banned from attending any La Liga or national team matches for the duration of their sentence.
This isn’t the first time Vinicius Jr. has been targeted. In 2022 alone, he faced racist chants from Atletico Madrid fans and was abused again during a match against Real Valladolid—incidents that led to further legal consequences for other offenders.
In response to these repeated attacks, Vinicius has been vocal in demanding tougher action, including lifetime bans for those involved in racist acts. His stance has made him one of the sport’s most powerful voices in the ongoing fight against racism, earning solidarity from players, clubs, and football authorities around the world.
