In a significant development in the fight against racism in Spanish football, authorities have apprehended four individuals suspected of spearheading an online hate campaign targeting Real Madrid’s Brazilian star, Vinicius Jr. The arrests, made on October 14 and 15, stem from an investigation into a social media campaign that urged fans to wear face masks during the Madrid derby on September 29 at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium, allowing them to racially abuse Vinicius Jr. without identification. The campaign, which utilized the hashtag #MetropolitanoConMascarilla, has been condemned as a blatant attempt to incite hatred against the young player.
This is not the first time Vinicius Jr. has been the target of racist abuse. Last year, he publicly denounced La Liga and Spain as racist following racist slurs directed at him during a match at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium. The case resulted in a landmark conviction in June, when three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for hate crimes against Vinicius Jr., marking the first conviction for racist insults in a Spanish football stadium.
Following the arrests, Spanish authorities are continuing their investigation into the online hate campaign, which has sparked widespread social alarm. While the four suspects have been released pending further investigation, the authorities have indicated that more arrests are possible. The investigation comes after La Liga, the governing body of Spanish professional football, called for the arrest of those involved in the campaign, deeming it a crime of incitement to hatred.
While no major incidents of racial abuse were reported during the derby match, the game was briefly suspended after objects were thrown onto the pitch, prompting further investigations. Notably, the Madrid prosecutor’s office has opened a criminal investigation to identify the fans responsible for throwing objects at Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, a former Atletico player.
The incidents have triggered further disciplinary action against Atletico Madrid. The Spanish football federation has ordered the club to play their recent match with a partial stadium closure, and the government’s Anti-Violence Committee has called for a two-week total closure of the Metropolitano Stadium along with a substantial fine. In addition, La Liga has submitted a report to Spain’s Commission Against Violence detailing 142 alleged incidents involving Atletico’s Frente Atletico ultras dating back to 2015, calling for a ban on the group. Atletico Madrid has expressed its commitment to taking disciplinary action against those involved in racist incidents, and has recently opted to not sell tickets to some of its supporters for upcoming away games.
These arrests and ongoing investigations underscore the persistent challenge of combating racism and hate speech in Spanish football. With Vinicius Jr. as a vocal advocate against such behavior, the authorities’ continued efforts to hold perpetrators accountable provide hope for a more inclusive and respectful environment in the sport.