Three Valencia supporters have been sentenced to prison for racially abusing Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior.

Three Valencia fans have been handed eight-month prison sentences and two-year stadium bans for racially abusing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior. The incident occurred during a La Liga match between the two teams at Mestalla Stadium in May 2023, resulting in the game being briefly halted due to the abuse directed at the Brazilian player.

The names of the three fans were not disclosed, but they appeared in court on Monday and were found guilty of a crime against moral integrity with the “aggravating circumstance of discrimination based on racist motives.” The initial 12-month prison sentence was reduced to eight months due to their acceptance of criminal responsibility.

The court stated that the defendants insulted Vinicius through racist chants, gestures, and imitations of monkeys, causing the player to feel frustrated, ashamed, and humiliated. This ruling marks the first conviction for racist abuse at a football match in Spain and is seen as a significant step in the fight against racism in the country.

Vinicius, who reacted to the news, expressed that this conviction is not just for him but for all black people. The player has been subjected to numerous incidents of racist abuse throughout his career, with 10 reported incidents in 2023 alone. In a press conference earlier this year, Vinicius broke down in tears, revealing that the repeated abuse was affecting his desire to play football.

The Valencia incident garnered international support and calls for action from Spanish authorities. Vinicius, in a tweet following the conviction, stated that he is not a victim of racism but a tormentor of racists. He thanked La Liga and Real Madrid for their support and vowed to continue fighting against racism.

The defendants’ lawyers requested the suspension of the sentences, a common practice for sentences under two years in Spain. The judge will rule on this request at a later date.

La Liga president Javier Tebas hailed the ruling as great news in the fight against racism and emphasized the league’s commitment to identifying and punishing those who engage in abusive behavior. Tebas acknowledged the frustration regarding the time it takes for these sentences to be handed down but emphasized the importance of upholding judicial integrity. He called for Spanish legislation to evolve, granting La Liga sanctioning powers to expedite the fight against racism.