Fans who insulted Vinícius

Madrid -Five Valladolid fans, who racistly insulted Real Madrid Star Vinícius Júnior in 2022, were found guilty in Spain in the first judgment that condemned racist insults in a football stadium as a hate crime, the league said on Wednesday.

A Valladolid court condemned the fans for their insults in a league game and sentenced them to one year in prison plus a fine of up to 1,620 euros (1,837 US dollars). The prison period is suspended on the condition that they do not commit a crime, or football stadiums that organize official national competitions for three years.

The league called “a permanent step to eliminate racism in sport” on Wednesday.

“This judicial decision represents an unprecedented milestone in the fight against racism in sports in Spain,” said the league.

Last year, three Valencia fans received eight-month prison terms after he was guilty of insulting Madrid striker Vinícius Júnior.

This was the first conviction for racism -related cases in professional football in Spain, but it was not based on a hate crime. The Valencia fans were convicted of a crime against moral integrity, with the aggravating circumstance of discrimination based on racist motives.

“The fact that this decision expressly refers to hate crimes associated with racist insults increases the message that intolerance has no place in football,” said the league.

The league initially submitted the complaint against the Valladolid fans. Later the player, Real Madrid and the public prosecutor's office, became the case.