A 16-year-old who racially abused Vinicius Junior has written a letter of apology to the Real Madrid forward.
On account of them being a minor, the individual has reached an out of court agreement with Vinicius Jr and La Liga following the use of racist language and a racist gesture during February’s league fixture against Rayo Vallecano.
He has also been banned from attending football matches for one year and been fined by the state commission against violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sport.
A La Liga statement read: “We inform you that the minor identified and reported by La Liga for making racist insults against Vinicius Jr on 18 February during the match between Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid, has reached an out-of-court agreement with La Liga and the player to compensate him for his status as a minor.
“As a result of this agreement, the minor has already sent a letter of apology to the player Vinicius Jr and to La Liga and also undertakes to carry out 40 hours of socio-educational work indicated by the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office on the prevention of violence and education in values.
“Likewise, he assumes the prohibition of access to matches played in official football competitions for one year.”
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A Madrid statement added: “Real Madrid announces that the minor who uttered racist insults to our player Vinicius Junior at the Vallecas Stadium has apologised and has shown his regret for his conduct in a letter of apology addressed to Vinicius Junior, accepting in the jurisdiction of minors, as a consequence of the extrajudicial compensation agreement reached.
“Real Madrid, which has acted as private prosecutor in such proceedings alongside its players and is acting in others currently in progress, will continue to work to protect the values of our club and eradicate any racist behaviour in the world of football and sport.”
Rayo Vallecano have been contacted for comment.
Vinicius Jr has suffered persistent racist abuse in Spain. In June, three people were sentenced to eight months in prison after being found guilty of racially abusing the Brazil international during Madrid’s La Liga fixture against Valencia in May 2023.
In March, Vinicius Jr broke down in tears at a Brazil press conference as he detailed how the abuse was getting worse because perpetrators were going unpunished.
“It never crossed my mind (to leave Spain) because if I leave Spain I am proving the racists right,” the 24-year-old said.
“I’m going to keep fighting and scoring goals so that they see more and more of my face. The racists are a minority. As I’m a bold player, a Madrid player and we win titles, that doesn’t sit well with a lot of people.”
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(Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
