LaLiga condemned this Thursday (15) the racist insults directed at Vinícius Junior, from Real Madrid, before the match the day before against Albacete, in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, at the Carlos Belmonte stadium. The team from the Spanish capital was eliminated by the second division team after losing 3-2.
“At LaLiga, we condemn any racist insult. On and off the field, there is no place for haters. @vinijr, LaLiga is with you,” the league declared on social media, along with the slogan “LaLiga. The strength of our football against racism.”
A video shows a group of fans outside the stadium hurling racist insults at the player, who was a starter in Álvaro Arbeloa’s debut as Real Madrid coach, following the dismissal of Xabi Alonso on Monday (12).
This is not the first time that incidents of this type have occurred against the Brazilian striker. Three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison in June 2024 for hate crimes.
Five other fans also received a one-year prison sentence in May 2025 for another hate crime, after insulting the player in December 2022 during a match against Valladolid.
And, a month later, four members of the ultra group Frente Atlético, who hung an effigy wearing Vinícius’s shirt in January 2023 before a classic, admitted to the acts in court and were sentenced to prison sentences ranging from 14 to 22 months.
In the end, they reached a plea deal to avoid prison, resulting in fines, disqualification from holding public office and a restraining order prohibiting them from approaching the player and stadiums.
On Wednesday, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had already criticized the racist chants. “No more racism! This is shameful,” he wrote on social media alongside images of the incident.
