La Liga condemns racist abuse against Real Madrid forward Vinícius in Albacete | OneFootball

La Liga have strongly condemned all racist insults and publicly showed its support for Vinicius Jr., after the Brazilian forward of Real Madrid was targeted by racist chants on Wednesday ahead of the Copa del Rey match vs Albacete, where they were eliminated after a 3-2 loss.

“From La Liga we condemn any racist insult. On the pitch and off it, there is no place for hate. Vini Jr, La Liga is with you,” the organisation wrote on social media, alongside its slogan La Liga. The strength of our football against racism.

Before the match at the Carlos Belmonte Stadium, which marked the debut of Alvaro Arbeloa as Real Madrid manager and in which Vinicius started, racist chants were heard directed at the Brazilian winger from opposition fans.

Sadly, Vinicius has been the target of similar abuse on previous occasions, many of which have already been prosecuted and classified as hate crimes.

The first such ruling came in June 2024, when three supporters were convicted for racist insults aimed at Vinicius during a match between Valencia and Real Madrid at Mestalla Stadium.

They were sentenced to eight months in prison for crimes against moral integrity, with the aggravating factor of hatred.

In May 2025, the Provincial Court of Valladolid sentenced five individuals to one year in prison each for a hate crime committed during the match played on 30 December 2022 at the José Zorrilla Stadium, where Vinicius was again subjected to racist abuse.

One month later, four members of the ultra group Frente Atletico admitted in court to hanging a dummy wearing Vinicius’ shirt in January 2023, on the eve of a derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

The acts constituted hate crimes and threats, and resulted in sentences ranging from 14 to 22 months in prison.

However, following plea agreements with the prosecution and private accusers, those individuals avoided jail time and instead received fines, bans from stadiums and restraining orders preventing them from approaching both the player and football venues.