Accused, who according to the investigations belonged to the Ultra Front Atlético group of Atletico Madrid fans, will not serve the penalty in prison due to Spanish legislation
The four suspects of hanging a doll with the striker’s shirt, on a 2023 bridge accepted convictions of up to 22 months in prison in an agreement that can avoid their imprisonment, court sources said. The agreement with the prosecution – which the judge must turn into a sentence to avoid judgment – the accused recognize his fault for a crime against fundamental rights and public freedoms, and another for threats. Three of them accepted a 14 -month prison conviction, while the fourth, which published the image of the doll hanging on a bridge on the outskirts of Madrid, will be sentenced to 22 months, according to sources of the prosecution.
The accused, who according to the investigations belonged to the Ultra Front Atlético group of fans, will not serve the penalty in prison due to Spanish legislation, as they have no criminal record and the penalty is less than two years. The four had to sign a “apology letter addressed to Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid CF, Laliga” and the Spanish Football Federation, and will have to participate in a “Treatment Training Program and non -discrimination,” Laliga said in a statement. In addition, they will pay fines and will be prohibited from approaching less than 1,000 meters to the Brazilian striker and stadiums for more than five years, he added. “This sentence is a firm step in the fight against hatred and discrimination in sport,” celebrated Laliga, who filed the complaint after the incident.
In a statement, Real Madrid stated that the four convicts add to the 14 people sentenced by “racist attacks” against their club members, and said that “he will continue to (…) eradicate any racist behavior in the football world.” The doll appeared hanging on a bridge on January 26, 2023, hours before a match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, under a track that said “Madrid hates Real.” The Brazilian striker, who witnessed for conferencing last month, has been the target of numerous racist episodes since his arrival in the Spanish capital in 2018, which led to public outrage and various judicial convictions.
*With information from AFP
Posted by Fernando Dias
