In recent seasons, Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior has regrettably been subjected to racist abuse on multiple occasions, with the most recent incident occurring last month.
During Real Madrid’s 3-2 loss to Albacete in the Copa del Rey, a banana was thrown at Vinicius by a supporter inside the Carlos Belmonte stadium. The individual responsible has since been identified, and this week the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport has been reviewing potential disciplinary measures.
According to Marca, the Commission has recommended a one-year stadium ban for the person accused of throwing the banana at Vinicius, along with a €5,000 fine. The episode, which took place after Albacete’s stoppage-time winning goal, has been classified as a serious offence and is therefore expected to result in a strong sanction.
The proposed ban would apply to all sports venues across Spain, not only the Carlos Belmonte. While the punishment has not yet been officially confirmed, a final ruling is anticipated within the next few weeks once all relevant authorities, including the Commission itself, complete their review.
Commission also rules on other cases
In addition to the Vinicius incident, the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport has suggested further penalties after examining several other cases. A total of 51 supporters from Sevilla and Real Betis are set to face sanctions following the disorderly events during November’s El Gran Derbi at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan. Meanwhile, CD Guadalajara could be fined €50,000 for “exceeding the allowed capacity and blocking evacuation routes with an additional stand” that was installed for their Copa del Rey match against Barcelona.
