Spain’s committee against violence and racism has approved a severe penalty against a fan of Albacete Balompié for racist actions targeting Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior during the Round of 16 match of the Copa del Rey.
The decision came after it was documented that the fan threw a banana towards Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior while his team was celebrating its final goal, an incident clearly captured by stadium surveillance cameras.
The match ended with Albacete winning 3-2, securing a spot in the next round. However, the racist incident overshadowed the game’s events and reignited debate about fan behavior in Spanish stadiums.
According to reports, the governmental committee against violence, racism, and intolerance recommended imposing a €5,000 fine on the fan, along with a one-year ban from entering stadiums, considering the act a serious violation of Spanish Law 19-2007, which combats violence, racism, xenophobia, and intolerance in sports.
It was mentioned that Albacete could face additional penalties if such behavior is repeated in the future. These penalties could include a partial stadium closure, with any sanction against the club taking effect from its first home match after the final decision is issued.
The committee clarified that the penalty might be limited to just a financial fine if an official warning is issued to the club, provided there are no further incidents related to racism or intolerance within its stands.
Spanish Law 19-2007 is one of the key legislations criminalizing racist acts and hate speech at sporting events, allowing for financial and administrative penalties against both individuals and clubs.
Sports authorities in Spain deal strictly with incidents of racial discrimination in stadiums by imposing fines, banning offending fans, and applying temporary suspensions or partial stadium closures for repeated violations.
This latest incident once again highlights the suffering of Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior from racist behavior, amid repeated incidents he has faced during domestic competitions. This reinforces calls to toughen penalties and protect players from any practices that undermine their dignity on the pitch.
