Vinícius racism case Four-year jail terms sought for 4 fans،
A Spanish prosecutor said Tuesday he had requested four years in prison for four soccer fans in an open hate crime case after a black effigy dressed as Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior was hanged from a bridge in January.
A banner reading “Madrid hates Real” and an inflatable black effigy dressed in a replica of Vinícius' No. 20 jersey appeared hanging on a bridge near the club's training ground ahead of a match against rivals Atlético Madrid, January 26.
The prosecutor accused four members of the far-right radical group Frente Atlético, supporters of Atlético Madrid, of having made threats against Vinícius and also of having violated fundamental rights, according to a statement from the prosecutor's office.
The four men showed “an unequivocal sign of contempt and repudiation of the victim's skin color and an attempt to undermine the victim's peace of mind,” according to the statement.
The prosecutor also requested joint compensation of €6,000 ($6,490.20) in civil liability for the moral damage caused to the player.
The four men, who refused to testify when arrested in May, were released on bail after a court banned them from approaching or communicating with Vinícius. They were also banned from Real Madrid's stadium and training ground as well as Atleti's playing field.
Vinícius Jr was in the spotlight in Spain earlier this year after calling Spain's La Liga and the country itself racist following verbal abuse from fans he suffered during another Real Madrid match in Valencia in May.
That match was interrupted for 10 minutes when the Brazilian striker reported that fans were shouting insults at him. He was then involved in an altercation with Valencia players which led to his expulsion in the second half.
The sporting world has since shown solidarity with the 23-year-old and the Brazilian government has called for tough sanctions against those responsible for the racist insults.
In October, Vinícius testified in a legal investigation against three supporters for allegedly making racist gestures towards him during the Valencia match. He was also called to give evidence in a similar case relating to insults committed at the Mallorca stadium in February.
