Four people sentenced in Spanish court over Vinicius Jr effigy

This marks the fourth court sentencing within a year concerning racial abuse and threats against Real Madrid footballer Vinicius Junior. A Madrid court issued suspended jail sentences ranging from 14 to 22 months to four individuals found guilty of a hate crime involving an effigy of the player. La Liga confirmed the sentences, noting that the defendant who shared a video of the incident online received a four-year, three-month ban from working in education, sports, or youth recreational settings, while the others received three-year, seven-month bans.

The convictions stem from an incident in January 2023, where the group hung a banner reading "Madrid hates Real" and an inflatable black effigy wearing Vinicius' number 20 shirt on a bridge before a Copa del Rey match against Atlético Madrid. One defendant received a 15-month sentence for hate crimes plus seven months for threats due to distributing images online. The other three were each sentenced to seven months for hate crimes and seven months for threats. All avoided prison by submitting apology letters to Vinicius, Real Madrid, La Liga, and the Spanish football federation (RFEF).

Additional penalties include fines of €1,084 for the main defendant and €720 for the others, a 1km restraining order from Vinicius and his home/workplace, stadium bans during matches, and mandatory participation in an anti-discrimination educational program. The court has not immediately confirmed the ruling, and Vinicius—currently competing in the Club World Cup—has not publicly reacted.

La Liga has pursued multiple complaints regarding racial abuse against Vinicius in recent years. Prior cases include: three Valencia fans sentenced to eight months in June 2024 for May 2023 stadium insults (Spain's first such conviction); a Mallorca fan receiving a one-year sentence and stadium ban in September 2023 for abusing Vinicius; and five individuals given 12-month suspended sentences last month for December 2022 abuse—a landmark ruling classifying stadium racism as a hate crime.