The body chaired by Javier Tebas maintains that it is doing everything possible in the fight against racism
The incident that unfolded on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at Mestalla was grave. It raised questions about whether Spain and its football culture allow racism to persist. The issue is not something Vinicius Junior has promoted; rather, it is a problem caused by racist insults directed at Vinicius and other Black players such as Iñaki Williams, Nico Williams, and Carlos Akapo, among others.
This outlet contacted LaLiga seeking clarification, and the league responded with a detailed dossier. In it, LaLiga reiterates its long-standing commitment to combating violence, racism, xenophobia, and intolerance in sport and explains its role in monitoring and reporting incidents. It also notes that sanctioning powers in such cases fall to government bodies, with LaLiga limited to filing complaints and denouncing the facts.
The organization also aimed to review recent racism episodes in Spanish football, examining how they were handled and what measures and sanctions followed. Of twelve notable incidents involving insults or racist violence in recent years, Vinicius was the target in nine. Adding Mestalla to the tally brings the count to ten out of thirteen cases.
Iñaki Williams experienced racist chants in Barcelona on January 25, 2020, during the match between Espanyol and Athletic Club at the RCDE Stadium. In the 69th minute, Williams faced abuse as he left the field, directed from the stands.
At present, both LaLiga and the public prosecutor have filed charges against the individuals responsible. LaLiga has requested prison time of two years, a twelve-month fine, a ten-year sports ban, and a stadium ban for more than five years after the criminal process begins, following an order from the Investigating Court in Cornellà de Llobregat.
The case is awaiting a verdict.
Vinicius Junior faced abuse in Barcelona on October 24, 2021, during El Clásico at Camp Nou. LaLiga lodged a complaint with the Barcelona prosecutor because the perpetrators had not been identified by authorities at the time the file was opened by the Public Prosecution Service, which cited ongoing identification efforts.
On March 14, 2022, at Son Moix in Mallorca, Vinicius again faced racist chants during Real Madrid’s visit to Mallorca. LaLiga filed a complaint with the Balearic Islands hate crimes prosecutor on the grounds that the expressions and sounds displayed unacceptable, reprehensible attitudes that demanded a formal investigation, even if they did not immediately reach the threshold for a criminal act under the applicable statutes.
Nico Williams, Vinicius’s Athletic Club teammate and brother of Iñaki Williams, endured racist shouts in Seville on March 13, 2022, during the Real Betis vs Athletic Club match. The case was reviewed by the Seville Prosecutor’s Office and subsequently archived, with prosecutors noting that the social media footprint did not establish intent to incite racism and that criminal action was not warranted given the evidence and context.
Carlos Akapo, then with Cádiz CF, was subjected to racist insults at Granada on February 28, 2022. Granada CF identified the fan, who appeared voluntarily before the police, and LaLiga’s complaint led the Hate Crimes Prosecutor to pursue the matter in Granada’s Investigative Courts. Akapo is expected to testify as proceedings continue.
Racist shouts against Vinicius in Madrid on September 18, 2022, during the Atlético de Madrid vs Real Madrid match at the Civitas Metropolitano, were reported. The Hate Prosecutor’s Office determined that the acts, while discrediting, did not clearly target a specific individual in a manner that would constitute a crime under the relevant article. The context of a high‑tension derby and the brief duration of the acts influenced the decision.
On December 30, 2022, at the Real Valladolid stadium, Vinicius endured insults as LaLiga referred the matter to the Anti‑Violence Commission and to various judicial bodies in Valladolid. A file was opened for identified individuals, and LaLiga acted as an accuser in the proceedings, with court documents indicating ongoing procedural steps.
On January 26, 2023, at the Valdebebas Bridge ahead of the Copa del Rey match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, Vinicius faced a banner and a puppet bearing abusive messages. LaLiga filed a complaint with the Madrid Investigating Judge No. 28, and the case was sealed at the court’s request as investigators work to identify those responsible.
February 5, 2023, Mallorca: a complaint arose after new insults toward Vinicius at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix. Proceedings were opened by the Palma de Mallorca court, with LaLiga present as an accuser in the case involving identified individuals connected to the incident at the stadium.
The sanctions proposed by the State Commission for Combating Violence include a fine of 4,000 euros and a 12-month ban from sports venues.
After identifying LaLiga and RCD Mallorca as the parties connected to racist slurs toward Vinicius in Mallorca, a new filing followed with Palma de Mallorca’s Investigative Courts. Mallorca’s club subsequently expelled the identified individuals from the country.
On April 4, 2023, Vinicius testified in relation to the ongoing proceedings stemming from LaLiga’s complaint.
On February 18, 2023, in Pamplona, the complaint for chants against Vinicius in Osasuna’s stands was filed with the Investigating Judge No. 4. The court requested investigative measures as it considered the case further. Samu Chukwueze’s case in Mallorca, reported on February 18, 2023, involved the person responsible for offenses against Vinicius and was transferred to Mallorca’s Investigating Judge No. 3 for continued investigation. Similarly, on March 5, 2023, in Seville, racist slurs observed during the Real Betis vs Real Madrid match prompted LaLiga to file with Seville’s Investigative Court No. 15. On March 19, 2023, at Camp Nou, LaLiga filed a complaint with Barcelona’s Investigative Court No. 13 relating to racist comments directed at Vinicius, with further bail set to advance the case.