The four accused of hanging a doll with Vinicius Junior’s shirt on a bridge near the Real Madrid sports city denied their responsibility. This was stated in court, in a brief hearing in which they were informed of the crimes they are accused of, including threats, hatred and attacks on moral integrity.
The case was initiated by LaLiga, the Royal Spanish Football Federation and the Prosecutor’s Office of the Spanish capital, which requested four years in prison for the accused. Real Madrid and the Brazilian forward himself are not part of the accusing party.
The defense lawyers described the requested sentence as “exaggerated” and indicated that their clients were not on the bridge at the time of the incident, according to the Spanish press. Even more, they hinted that they suspect that there may be political motivation on the part of the local government, with the aim of showing that it seeks to prosecute these types of hate crimes.
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The event occurred on January 26, 2023, before a Copa del Rey match at the Santiago Bernabéu between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. In addition to the doll, which simulated a hanging of the footballer, they hung a red banner on the bridge, with letters painted in white, with the motto ‘Madrid hates Real’.
The indictment states that the four defendants, identified as members of the ultra group Frente Atlético, proceeded to hang with a rope a mannequin with black skin color and hair “as an unequivocal display of contempt and rejection of the victim’s skin color.” and moved by a desire to undermine their feeling of tranquility.”
Vini indicated on several occasions that he had suffered racist insults. The most memorable example, which was also brought to justice, occurred in a match against Valencia at Mestalla, in May of last year, when the winger pointed out from the field of play at the fans who insulted him, which led to the stoppage of the game.
