La Liga has demanded the swift apprehension of fans implicated in a hate campaign aimed at Real Madrid‘s Vinicius Jr as the derby against Atletico Madrid approaches this Sunday.
The campaign, which has gained traction on social media with the hashtag “#MetropolitanoConMascarilla” (‘Metropolitano with a mask’), seeks to motivate Atletico fans to wear masks at the Metropolitano Stadium this Sunday. The initiative has raised concerns as it appears to facilitate racially abusive behavior towards the Brazilian winger while allowing perpetrators to conceal their identities.
Since last year, authorities in Spain have conducted multiple arrests in connection with incidents of racist abuse aimed at Vinicius, a Black athlete.
In a statement released on Saturday, LaLiga declared its intention to formally report and seek the immediate arrest of those responsible for instigating a hate campaign aimed at promoting racist and derogatory acts.
The campaign represents an act of incitement to hatred, as explicitly outlined in the Penal Code. LaLiga has strongly condemned actions that, whether directly or indirectly, foster, promote, and incite hatred against an individual, specifically the player Vinicius Jr., due to his race.
“Such actions not only damage the reputation of the sport and our nation but also represent a direct risk to the integrity and welfare of all supporters.”
In a notable incident from last year, four fans of Atletico Madrid faced charges for displaying an effigy of Vinicius from a bridge in the Spanish capital. Additionally, three supporters of Valencia received sentences of eight months in prison in June for committing hate crimes against the Brazilian player.
In March, Real Madrid lodged a formal complaint with the state prosecutor’s office following the emergence of a social media video that purportedly captured racist chanting by Atletico fans prior to their Champions League clash with Inter Milan.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has mandated that Atletico Madrid partially close their south stand for two matches following an incident in April where Athletic Bilbao player Nico Williams was subjected to racist abuse.
