(Rio de Janeiro) Brazilian Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior on Monday welcomed the “historic sentencing” of three Valencia supporters to eight months in prison for racist insults against him, a first in Spain.
“This first historic conviction […] is not for me. She is for all black people,” the 23-year-old said on his official accounts of several social networks.
“Let other racists be afraid, let them be ashamed or let them hide. If not, I will be there to demand (justice),” he insisted.
Convicted as part of a guilty plea procedure for violating “moral integrity” aggravated by “discrimination based on racism”, the three supporters were also sentenced to two years of stadium ban, announced in a press release from the Superior Court of Justice of Valencia.
These three young Spaniards were prosecuted for having uttered racist insults and shouts against Vinicius on May 21, 2023, during a La Liga match between Real Madrid and Valencia CF at the Mestalla stadium.
“Many people asked me to ignore it, others said that my fight was in vain and that I should just ‘play football’,” said the Brazilian.
Currently in the United States, where he is preparing to play the Copa América with the Seleçao (June 20–July 14), Vinicius is a serious candidate for the Ballon d’Or.
He was voted best player in the Champions League, the 15th won by Real, after notably scoring the second goal in Madrid’s 2-0 victory in the final against Borussia Dortmund in early June at Wembley.