Spain’s National Police detained three people, including a minor, for racist insults towards Barcelona forwards Lamine Yamal and Brazilian Raphinha during Barça’s 4-0 El Clásico victory at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in October. informed this Saturday (23) the police force.
The detainees allegedly made “discriminatory expressions that belittled the moral integrity of both”, as well as “gestures imitating” simians directed at Barça players, said the statement from the police institution.
The scene occurred after Barça scored, with the players subsequently celebrating in the stands. “At that moment, several spectators made simian gestures, referring to two of the players, in addition to making discriminatory expressions that belittled the moral integrity of both” players.
These behaviors were recorded on the mobile devices of other spectators and by the television operator with the rights to broadcast the match, becoming highly viral.
The investigations began after receiving complaints from the Professional Football League and the clubs that played in the match. The police had close collaboration with the security services of the host team, Real Madrid.
After thoroughly analyzing the images, investigators were able to locate the exact area of the stadium where these individuals were and were able to identify the perpetrators.
“In the middle of this month, the National Police established a special location operation that culminated in the arrest of three men, one of them a minor, as alleged perpetrators of a crime against moral integrity, and were subsequently placed at the disposal of the judicial authority” , the statement concluded.
Brazilian striker Vinícius Júnior, from Real Madrid, has repeatedly reported racist abuse against him by Spanish fans, resulting in at least two convictions. In October, he lamented the attacks on Barcelona players.
“What happened yesterday at Berbabéu with the racist insults is regrettable. There is no space for these criminals in our society. All my support for Lamine [Yamal]Ansu [Fati] and Raphinha. I know that the [Real] Madrid and the police will do their best to identify and punish those responsible,” the player wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
