Four individuals have received suspended prison sentences after being convicted of hate crimes against Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior.
The defendants were found guilty of hanging an inflatable effigy of the Brazilian forward over a bridge near Real Madrid's training ground in January 2023.
The incident occurred shortly before a Copa del Rey match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
A banner accompanying the effigy read "Madrid hates Real".
The incident happened shortly before Real Madrid played Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey
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The convictions were secured after the quartet signed letters of apology to Vinicius, Real Madrid, La Liga and the Spanish football federation, leading to the suspension of their sentences.
Three of the defendants received 14-month prison sentences, whilst one was handed 22 months for distributing images of the act online.
According to La Liga, the individual who shared the images was specifically sentenced to 15 months for a hate crime and seven months for threats.
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Vinicius Junior has won two Champions Leagues with Real Madrid
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The court imposed restraining orders preventing the quartet from coming within 1,000 metres of Vinicius, his residence or Real Madrid's training ground.
They are also banned from attending La Liga or Spain national team matches.
The defendants must complete a training programme on equal treatment and non-discrimination to maintain their suspended sentences.
They are additionally prohibited from any communication with Vinicius for four years following their prison terms.
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Real Madrid stated that these convictions bring the total to 14 people criminally convicted for racist attacks against the club's players.
"This criminal conviction comes in addition to the several already handed down in recent months for racist insults received by Real Madrid players at the stadiums in Valladolid, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca and Madrid," the club said.
The Spanish authorities have increasingly pursued criminal prosecutions for football-related racism.
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Prosecutors indicated the four defendants belonged to a hardcore Atletico fan group "ideologically identified with the extreme right".
Real Madrid confirmed they have "joined its player in prosecuting this case, and in many others currently underway".
Vinicius has faced repeated racial abuse since joining Real Madrid in 2018 from Flamengo.
In September 2022, he was subjected to racist chanting by Atletico fans during a La Liga match.
Later that month, he was targeted again during a match against Real Valladolid, with five people subsequently receiving suspended prison sentences.
In May, those five Valladolid supporters who racially abused Vinicius in 2022 were handed suspended 12-month sentences.
Three Valencia fans also received eight-month prison sentences last year after pleading guilty to racially insulting Vinicius in a 2023 match.
One month before the effigy incident, Vinicius had urged La Liga to ban those found guilty of racist chanting from attending matches.
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