Real Mallorca Fan Receives Suspended Sentence for Racial Abuse

Real Mallorca fan received a 12-month suspended prison sentence from a Spanish court for racially abusing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. and former Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze. The court suspended the sentence after the supporter apologized in writing to Vinicius and completed anti-discrimination training. Additionally, the individual received a three-year stadium ban.

Real Madrid issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to eradicating racism from football and promoting the club’s values. The racial abuse incident involving Vinicius Jr. occurred during Madrid’s 1-0 La Liga loss to Real Mallorca at the Son Moix stadium in February 2023. The same supporter later targeted Chukwueze, now with AC Milan with racial slurs two weeks after the incident involving Vinicius.

This case marks the third criminal conviction for racist behavior directed at Real Madrid players particularly Vinicius, who has faced consistent abuse since his arrival in Spain in 2018. In June, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for racially abusing Vinicius at the Mestalla Stadium in May 2023. The increasing number of convictions highlights the ongoing issue of racism in Spanish football.

Earlier in September, Vinicius advocated for Spain to lose its 2030 World Cup hosting rights unless the country takes meaningful steps to address racism in its stadiums. Real Madrid will face city rivals Atletico at the Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday, a venue where Vinicius has previously encountered racist abuse. The club’s efforts to combat racism continue as they work to create a safer environment for players and fans alike.