Fans who misjudged Vinícius Júnior

Five Valladolid fans, who racistly insulted Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior in 2022, were found to be guilty in Spain, who sentenced racist insults in a football stadium as a hate crime 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 being guilty of insulting Vinícius racially insulting.

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.

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