A Spanish court has handed down an eight-month suspended jail term to a person for online racist abuse targeting Real Madrid players Vinicius Junior and Antonio Rudiger, the club said on Wednesday.
Real Madrid said the individual “acting under various pseudonyms on the digital forum of the Marca newspaper, directed serious racist attacks and insults against our players Vinicius Junior and Antonio Rudiger”.
“The court ordered the accused to serve eight months in prison and not to participate in the above-mentioned forum for 20 months,” the club said.
The accused was found guilty of two offences against Brazilian Vinicius and Rudiger, both
aggravated by the fact that they acted with racist motives and, in the case of the German defender, also in contempt of his religion. The suspended prison sentence was made conditional on the defendant’s participation in a non-discrimination programme. Real Madrid pointed out that it was the second criminal conviction for racist insults against their players. On June 10, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months for racist insults targeting Vinicius in May 2023. A prominent figure in the fight against racism in Spanish football, Vinicius has been targeted several times in recent years. In January 2023, an effigy wearing a Vinicius shirt was found hanging from a bridge near the club’s training ground alongside a banner saying: “Madrid hates Real”. In December, four Atletico Madrid fans were charged over the incident, with prosecutors pushing for jail terms of four years. No date has yet been set for a trial.
Opening probe into Argentina players’ racist chants: FIFA
FIFA said on Wednesdayit was opening an investigation into racist chants by Argentina players after they won the Copa America.
“FIFA is aware of a video circulating on social media and the incident is being looked into,” a spokesperson for world football’s governing body said.
They added: “FIFA strongly condemns any form of discrimination by anyone including players, fans and officials.”
The chants were heard during a live video posted on social media by Chelsea and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from the team bus in the wake of the Copa victory over Colombia in Miami on Sunday. Some players, including 23-year-old Fernandez, sing a chant dating back to the 2022 World Cup final in which Argentina beat France. The song targets France’s star striker Kylian Mbappe among others and includes racist and homophobic insults. Chelsea had earlier announced they had launched an internal disciplinary procedure against Fernandez over the incident. Fernandez has apologised and the club said in a statement it had launched an “internal disciplinary procedure”.
“Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable,” it added. “We acknowledge and appreciate our player’s public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate.”
Fernandez, who joined Chelsea from Benfica for a Premier League record fee of £105 million ($136.8 million) in 2023, said in his apology: “The song includes highly offensive language and there is absolutely no excuse for these words.
“I stand against discrimination in all forms and apologise for getting caught up in the euphoria of our Copa America celebrations.”
Javier Mascherano, the coach of Argentina’s Olympic football team, said he felt the video had been “taken out of context” as he sprang to the defence of Fernandez. “Argentines, if there’s one thing we’re not, it’s racists, far from that,” said Mascherano.
“I know Enzo, he’s a great guy. He doesn’t have any problems like that,” he insisted.