Vinicius Jr: Seven people punished over racist chants and effigy of Real Madrid player

Seven individuals have faced consequences for their racist actions targeting Vinicius Jr., the talented Brazilian forward for Real Madrid.

In January, four men were handed fines of 60,001 euros (£51,700) and were slapped with a two-year ban from stadiums after they hung an effigy of Vinicius near Real Madrid training ground. The arrest of these men occurred 11 days ago, and subsequently, they were released on bail by a Madrid court.

Furthermore, three other individuals, aged between 18 and 21, were fined 5,000 euros (£4,300) and banned for one year for making racist gestures during Real Madrid’s game against Valencia on May 21. These offenders were apprehended two days following the match.

Spain’s State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance in Sport imposed these sanctions, as stated by the country’s Sports Commission on Monday.

In response to these incidents, Vinicius, whose red card for violent conduct in the Valencia match was later revoked, expressed his view that the Spanish league is plagued by racism. This remark sparked widespread criticism towards La Liga president Javier Tebas and his handling of the situation.

Tebas had advised Vinicius on social media to “inform yourself properly,” a statement that many found inappropriate. However, Tebas subsequently apologized to the 22-year-old, clarifying that his intention was not to “attack” him.

To combat racism, Brazil will engage in friendly matches against Guinea and Senegal in Lisbon on June 17 and 20, respectively, as part of an ongoing anti-racism campaign.