Fans sent to jail for targeting Vinicius Jr. with racist insults
Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications.
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.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
HEADLINES
- Mets' Alonso declines HR Derby invite: Time for 'a break'
- MLB All-Star Game snubs: Soto, Springer among glaring omissions
- Padres' Darvish to make season debut Monday vs. D-Backs
- Guardians lose 10th straight after 'gut-wrenching' meltdown vs. Tigers
- Walker, Diaz, Altuve homer as Astros complete sweep of Dodgers