Five Real Valladolid supporters have each been sentenced to one year in prison and fined €1,620 for racially abusing Real Madrid's Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior during a 2022 La Liga match at the José Zorrilla Stadium.

Historic Verdict for Hate Crime

The Valladolid Provincial Court convicted the individuals for a "hate crime," establishing that their chants were delivered with "clear intent to humiliate and damage the player's dignity through obvious racist motives." The verdict noted the abuse was extensively documented through multiple fan recordings from different stadium sections and subsequently circulated on social media platforms.

The sentencing marks Spain's toughest punishment for stadium racism since 2006 legislation classified such offenses as hate crimes. With La Liga reporting 16 racist incidents this season alone, authorities hope this precedent will deter future discrimination in Spanish football.