La Liga has reported a number of individuals who allegedly targeted Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior with racial abuse during February’s fixture at Real Sociedad to local police.
The league has analysed images and utilised lip-readers to identify those responsible for the alleged racist abuse and gestures and has reported them to the Ertzaintza, the Basque Country’s police force.
Real Sociedad have identified one of the alleged perpetrators and are contemplating the next steps regarding an investigation and potential sanctions.
The Ertzaintza declined to comment when approached by The Athletic.
Vinicius Jr was whistled off as he was substituted in the 84th minute of Madrid’s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg victory at Anoeta, and a supporter had earlier been caught on camera making an alleged racist gesture towards him.
The 24-year-old Brazil international has been persistently targeted with racist abuse at multiple stadiums in Spain and on social media platforms.
In June 2024, three people were sentenced to eight months in prison after being found guilty of racially abusing Vinicius Jr against Valencia in May 2023. That sentencing marked the first conviction for racist insults in a football stadium in Spain.
In September, a fan was fined €60,001 and banned from sports stadiums for two years by a Spanish high court for racially abusing Vinicius Jr online. A Mallorca supporter was also sentenced to one year in prison for racially abusing Vinicius Jr and Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze in separate incidents.
In March 2024, the Madrid forward broke down in tears during an emotional press conference as he said that racism was getting worse because perpetrators were going unpunished and he felt “less and less like playing football”.
February’s Copa del Rey first-leg tie was also briefly paused in the first half after Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio was on the receiving end of “Asencio die” chants from sections of the home crowd. The stadium’s public address system broadcasted a message asking fans not to shout insults.
The 22-year-old has been targeted at other away matches this season, and was taken off at half time at Anoeta. On February 11, The Athletic reported that Asencio is still under investigation for allegedly sharing a sex tape of a minor and that a Spanish court had rejected an appeal to have him acquitted of the case. The investigation is ongoing.
Madrid face La Real in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at the Bernabeu on April 1.
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Vinicius Jr’s persecution reflects Spanish football’s flawed reckoning with racism
(David Ramos/Getty Images)
