The Complaints Commission of the Spanish Football Federation has partially upheld the complaint of the first division football club from Valencia regarding the case of Real Madrid forward Vinicius, who was the victim of racist insults by Valencia fans.
The partial closure of the Mestalla stadium was reduced to three matches, and the fine was reduced to 31,000 euros, dpa reported.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) previously erased the red card of Brazilian Vinicius Junior. This has been in the forefront in recent days due to racially oriented insults directed at him in Sunday’s league game away to Valencia.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea sent off the Brazilian in stoppage time for punching a rival after a brawl with Valencia players. The referees in the room for Var saw that it was actually the local footballer who hit Vinicius first, and Vinicius hit him back.
Vinicius had previously been racially abused by fans, leading to a ten-minute stoppage in the match, with the Real player pointing at the people who insulted him.
The RFEF announced that the club was fined 45,000 euros and the south stand at the Mestalla stadium was closed for five matches.
Valencia felt the punishment was “disproportionate” and “unfair”. They believe it harms fans who were not involved in the “disgraceful incident”. At Valencia, they appealed against the penalty of partially closing the stadium and were partially successful with their appeal.
The Spanish public prosecutor’s office still has to decide on the case. The representatives of Real have filed a criminal complaint for hate crimes because Vinicius, who is black, was compared to a monkey during the match.
Players and officials of the elite Spanish championship called for a fight against racism in Spain after Sunday’s match.
Ahead of Tuesday night’s games between Real Valladolid and Barcelona and Celta Vigo and Girona, players from both sides, as well as the match referees, stood behind banners reading “Racism, out of football”.
La Liga, meanwhile, said it would demand greater powers to punish clubs whose fans were guilty of racist abuse after feeling “helpless” by the lack of current sanctions following the latest incident.
Under national law, LaLiga can currently only record and report incidents, and penalties are rarely issued.
Source: Rtvslo
