First Ruling in Spain Condemning Racist Insults in Stadiums as a Hate Crime

In a firm step towards eradicating racism in sport, the Provincial Court of Valladolid has this morning handed down the first ruling in Spain that condemns racist insults in a football stadium as a hate crime under Article 510.2 a) of the Penal Code. The five defendants were convicted for directing racist insults at Vinicius Jr. during a football match.

The events took place on December 30, 2022, during the match between Real Valladolid and Real Madrid.

Thanks to the efforts of LALIGA, which filed the complaint and initially acted as the sole private prosecution—later joined by the player Vinicius and Real Madrid C.F., as well as the Public Prosecutor’s Office—this exemplary ruling has been achieved. The penalties imposed on the defendants are as follows:

• 1 year in prison
• Special disqualification from the right to passive suffrage for 1 year
• Fines ranging from €1,080 to €1,620
• Special disqualification from exercising educational, sports or leisure-related professions or activities for 4 years

To suspend the prison sentence, the convicted individuals expressly accepted two conditions: not to commit any offence for a period of 3 years and not to attend football stadiums hosting official national competitions during the same period.

This judicial decision represents an unprecedented milestone in the fight against racism in sport in Spain, where, until now, rulings had addressed conduct against moral integrity with a racial aggravating factor. The fact that this ruling explicitly refers to hate crimes associated with racist insults reinforces the message that intolerance has no place in football.

This progress is the result of LALIGA’s unwavering commitment to defending the values of sport and tolerance. Through its LALIGA VS project, the institution carries out legal actions, awareness campaigns, and deploys technological tools to identify and report discriminatory behavior.

LALIGA will continue to work resolutely with authorities and clubs to ensure that football remains a safe, respectful, and inclusive space for all.