Vinícius Jr. responds as Mallorca fan hit with prison sentence for racial abuse | OneFootball

Another major step in the right direction in the ongoing fight against racism in Spanish football has on Thursday been confirmed.

This comes by way of the announcement of a prison sentence handed down to a member of the fanbase at La Liga outfit RCD Mallorca.

The individual in question has been found guilty of ‘two crimes against moral integrity, aggravated by having acted with racist motives’.

After first subjecting Real Madrid star Vinícius Jr. to a torrent of racist abuse during a La Liga fixture at Son Moix in February of 2023, the same ‘fan’ then did likewise to Samu Chukwueze, then of Villarreal, two weeks later.

As per a lengthy statement across Real Madrid’s website and social media platforms:

‘Real Madrid CF announces that the Examining Magistrate’s Court No. 3 of Palma de Mallorca has today issued a guilty verdict against the person who, from his seat in the stands of the Son Moix stadium, directed racist insults at our player Vinicius Júnior in the match between Mallorca and Real Madrid on February 5, 2023.

‘The accused has been found guilty of two crimes against moral integrity, aggravated by having acted with racist motives, committed against Vinicius Júnior, and also against the player Samu Chukwueze, at that time a Villarreal player, who suffered similar insults at the Son Moix stadium by the same person, two weeks later.

‘The court has sentenced the accused to twelve months in prison, also sentencing him not to enter football stadiums where matches of the National Professional Football League and the Royal Spanish Football Federation are held for a period of three years. The suspension of the prison sentence has been made conditional on the accused, who has apologized and shown his remorse with a letter addressed to Vinicius Júnior, participating in an equal treatment and non-discrimination program.’

The aforementioned Vinícius, who has long been a vocal leader against racism in Spanish football, has since responded to the news on his official ‘X’ account:

Conor Laird – GSFN