A Spanish court has dropped a lawsuit over alleged racist abuse aimed at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during a La Liga match last year against Osasuna.
During Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Osasuna at the club’s El Sadar stadium in the northern city of Pamplona on February 18, 2023, someone from the crowd was heard on camera shouting racial insults at Vinicius.
But the case was dropped by the Spanish authorities on Tuesday.
‘From the actions that occurred, it is clear that the facts could constitute a crime, but there is not enough data to know the identity of the perpetrators,’ the Pamplona court handling the case said in a statement to Spanish outlet Marca.
Vinicius, who has repeatedly been targeted with racial slurs in Spain, has become a leader in the fight against racism in Spanish football.
Vinicius Junior has been targeted with racism and hateful messages on 10 separate occasions
Real Madrid star acts out the racist gesture he said he saw performed towards him at Valencia
Spanish prosecutors are seeking four-year jail terms for four men arrested on suspicion of hanging a dummy of the Brazilian international from a Madrid bridge ahead of a Real Madrid match against Atletico Madrid in January 2023.
Vinicius, 22, released a damning statement last May saying the racial abuse he has received while playing in Spain is ‘inhuman.’
The winger has been targeted with racism and hateful messages on 10 separate occasions and has been subjected to death threats from rivals fans at some away games this season.
He added: ‘It is not fair that a poor boy who is winning in his life, becoming one of the best in the world, certainly the best at Real Madrid, is insulted in every stadium he goes to.’
Real opened a legal case for a ‘hate crime’ following an incident at Valencia.
Brazil’s president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said at the G7 meeting in Japan that he hopes FIFA, the Spanish league and other football authorities ‘take measures so we don’t allow racism and fascism to take over’ in the sport.
His hometown of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil turned off the lights of the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in solidarity with the player.
Vinicius posted a picture of the statue bathed in darkness with a statement saying: ‘Black and imposing. Christ the Redeemer was just like that. An action of solidarity that moves me. But I want, above all, to inspire and bring more light to our struggle.
‘I really appreciate all the chain of affection and support I’ve received in the last few months. Both in Brazil and around the world. I know exactly who’s who. Count on me because the good ones are the majority and I won’t give up.
