Fans sent to jail for targeting Vinicius Jr. with racist insults

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MADRID (AP) — Three Valencia fans have been handed eight-month prison sentences after pleading guilty to racially insulting Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior in the first conviction for racism-related cases in professional soccer in Spain.

The fans won’t be allowed to enter soccer stadiums for two years and will have to pay for all the court proceedings.

The fans were detained after a Spanish league match between Real Madrid and Valencia at Mestalla Stadium in May 2023. The match was briefly stopped after Vinicius was insulted.

Valencia had already banned the fans from Mestalla.

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