Vinicius Jr, a forward for Real Madrid, has declared himself a “scourge for racists” following the sentencing of three Valencia supporters to eight months in jail for racially abusing him during a game.
The incident, which involved racist slurs directed at Vinicius, took place at a La Liga match in Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium on May 21, 2023.
The supporters were convicted of a “crime against moral integrity”, with the added severity of “discrimination based on racist motives”.
Vinicius stated on X, “I am not a victim of racism. I am a scourge for racists. This first-ever criminal conviction in Spain’s history is not just for me, but for all black people.”
He added, “Let other racists feel fear, embarrassment, and retreat into the shadows. If not, I’ll be here to hold them accountable. My gratitude goes to La Liga and Real Madrid for their assistance in achieving this landmark conviction.”
This is the first instance of a racism-related conviction being handed out at a football match in Spain, a direct result of a complaint lodged by La Liga.
The initial sentence of 12 months was reduced by a third due to an agreement reached during the preliminary investigation phase.
The convicted fans have also been prohibited from entering any football stadium where La Liga and/or Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) matches are held, for a duration of three years, later reduced to two.
Vinicius, a Brazilian international, joined forces with La Liga, Real Madrid, and RFEF to bring the case to court. The defendants issued a letter of apology during the hearing.
Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, commented, “This verdict is a significant advancement in Spain’s fight against racism. It begins to rectify the appalling injustice suffered by Vinicius Jr and sends a potent message to those who attend football matches to spew hate.
“La Liga will identify these individuals, report them, and they will face criminal repercussions.
“I understand there may be some frustration regarding the time it takes for these sentences to be delivered, but this demonstrates that Spain is a nation that upholds judicial integrity.
“We at La Liga can only respect the pace of justice, but we continue to urge for changes in Spanish legislation to grant La Liga the power to expedite the battle against racism.”
Real Madrid expressed their commitment to “continue working to uphold our club’s values and eliminate any form of racist behaviour in football and sports”.
Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, lauded the sentences as a “positive development” and commended the “decisive action”.