LaLiga urges arrests after Viní Jr. hate campaign

LaLiga has called for the arrest of fans behind a hate campaign aimed at Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior ahead of Sunday’s derby against Atlético Madrid.

Some fans had claimed on social media that they would attend the game at the Metropolitano wearing masks, enabling them to racially abuse the Brazil international without being identified.

Vinícius has frequently been targeted with racist abuse from opposition fans, including at the Madrid derby. Last year, four Atlético fans were charged after an effigy of Vinícius was hung from a bridge.

“LaLiga wishes to announce that it will proceed to formally report and request the immediate arrest of the instigators behind a hate campaign seeking to promote racist and derogatory acts at the upcoming match between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid,” the league said on Saturday.

“The aforementioned campaign constitutes the crime of incitement to hatred, as clearly defined in the Penal Code. LaLiga vigorously condemns these actions that — directly or indirectly — encourage, promote and incite hatred against an individual, in this case, the player Vinícius Jr., because of his race.

“These actions also involve the aggravating circumstances outlined in sections 3 and 4 of Article 510 of the Penal Code, as ‘the acts are such to disturb public peace.’ LaLiga will not tolerate such behaviour under any circumstances.”

It’s not clear how many fans intended to participate in the campaign, with media coverage based on a handful of posts on social media. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was reluctant to discuss the issue Saturday.

“Obviously we aren’t thinking about that,” Ancelotti said. “We don’t talk about that. The justice system is taking action. … We have to focus, there are other bodies that must worry about that.”

In June, three Valencia fans were jailed for eight months for racially abusing Vinícius during a LaLiga game in May 2023, in the first verdict of its kind in Spain.