Spanish police have detained four individuals suspected of leading an online hate campaign aimed at Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr, escalating concerns over racism in Spanish football. The arrests, made on October 14 and 15, involved men alleged to have encouraged Atletico Madrid fans to racially abuse Vinicius during the Madrid derby on September 29, using social media to incite hatred under the hashtag #MetropolitanoConMascarilla.
Vinicius Jr, a Brazilian forward, has long been vocal against racial abuse, once describing Spain’s LaLiga as “racist” after facing insults during a match at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium. The case has drawn intense scrutiny, marking the first instance in which Spanish fans were sentenced to prison time for racially motivated crimes in football, with three Valencia supporters convicted in June for such offenses.
This hate campaign against Vinicius drew widespread alarm, prompting LaLiga to call for arrests before the Madrid derby, citing the campaign as a “crime of incitement to hatred.” Spain’s National Police confirmed the ongoing investigation, which could see further arrests. While Atletico Madrid has yet to comment, the club previously vowed to implement disciplinary action against any associated individuals linked to racist behavior.
This incident underscores the growing push across Spanish football to counteract racism, as teams and authorities take decisive actions to ensure a more inclusive environment in the sport
Source: Al-Jazeera
