A Madrid court has handed down suspended jail sentences to four individuals found guilty of a hate crime related to an effigy of Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior. The sentences stem from an incident in January 2023, where a banner reading "Madrid hates Real" and an inflatable black effigy in a replica of Vinicius's No. 20 shirt were hung from a bridge before a Copa del Rey match against Atletico Madrid.

According to the ruling, one of the defendants received a sentence of 15 months in prison for the hate crime, along with an additional seven months for making threats, specifically related to distributing images of the act online. The other three defendants were each sentenced to seven months in prison for the hate crime and an additional seven months for making threats.

However, none of the four will serve time in prison, as their sentences have been suspended. This suspension is conditional upon several factors, including that all four signed a letter of apology addressed to Vinicius, Real Madrid, La Liga, and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Additionally, they are required to participate in an educational program focused on equal treatment and non-discrimination.

Beyond the suspended sentences, the first defendant was also fined 1,084 euros (approximately $1,250), while the other three were fined 720 euros each. Further punishments include a 1,000-meter restraining order from Vinicius, his home, and his workplace. They are also banned from approaching football stadiums during La Liga or RFEF matches. The defendant who posted the video online received a special disqualification from working in education, sports, or recreational youth settings for four years and three months, while the others received three years and seven months.

The incident involving the effigy occurred on January 26, 2023, ahead of a derby match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey. The act was widely condemned as a blatant display of racism and hate, sparking outrage both within Spain and internationally. Police investigations led to the arrest of the four individuals, who were identified as belonging to a hardcore Atletico fan group with ties to the extreme right.

Vinicius Jr. has been a frequent target of racist abuse in Spain since his arrival in 2018. He has often criticized the Spanish football authorities for not doing enough to combat racism within the sport. The conviction of these individuals marks a significant step in addressing the issue, although many believe more needs to be done to eradicate racism from football.

Real Madrid has acted as a private prosecutor alongside its player in this trial and several others currently in the pipeline due to events of a similar nature, and will continue its work to uphold the values of our club and eradicate any racist conduct from the world of football and sport.