January 17, (THEWILL) – A lawsuit over alleged racist abuse aimed at Real Madrid forward, Vinicius Junior, during a La Liga match last year, has been dropped by a Spanish court due to insufficient evidence.
The incident occurred during Real Madrid’s 2-0 win against Osasuna at their El Sadar stadium on February 18 last year. Vinicius was subjected to racial slurs from the crowd which were caught on camera. However, the Pamplona court handling the case stated there was not enough information to identify the perpetrators.
Vinicius has repeatedly faced racial abuse while playing in Spain. The 23-year-old Brazilian international has become a leading voice against racism in Spanish football. Spanish prosecutors are currently seeking four-year jail terms for four men arrested for hanging an effigy of Vinicius from a Madrid bridge before a derby against Atletico in January 2023.
In addition, Vinicius complained of racist taunts during a league match at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium last May. He testified via video conference to a Spanish court in October regarding the alleged abuse. His manager at Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, stated in November that Vinicius had “unfortunately become used to” racism while playing in Spain.
The dropping of the Osasuna case due to lack of conclusive evidence will be disappointing for Vinicius and those seeking harsher punishments for racist behaviour. However, the pursuit of other active cases indicates Spain’s justice system is taking such abuse seriously. Vinicius’ high profile role in combating racism also continues to build pressure on Spanish football authorities.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
