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Rabat – Spanish police have arrested four suspects for their alleged involvement in the racist slurs and “hate crime” against Real Madrid’s star Vinicius Jr.
The suspects are facing several felony charges, including hate crime for “hanging from a bridge a mannequin with Vinicius’ shirt,” according to Spanish police.
The incident dates back to January, when police identified a mannequin of the football player hanging under a bridge.
Three of the suspects are “members of an ultra fan group of a Madrid football club who had been identified during matches as representing a high risk of violence,” according to French news outlet France 24.
Police did not name the club the suspects are affiliated to.
In addition to people arrested for the mannequin incident, police detained three others in Valencia in connection with slurs and racist chants made against the football player on Sunday during a La Liga game against Valencia.
The Guardian said police arrested three in connection with the abuse.
On Sunday, Valencia fans subjected the Brazilian forward to racist chants during a La Liga game against Real Madrid.
In response to the racism and “hate crimes” against the football player, Real Madrid announced its decision to file a complaint against the perpetrators of the hostile acts and chants.
Many have expressed support for the Brazilian football star, including Morocco’s football player Achraf Hakimi.
Real Madrid’s president Florentino Perez also expressed support and informed the player about actions being taken to address the situation.
Meanwhile, Vinicius Jr took to social media to comment on the racism campaign against him, stressing that Sunday’s incident was the umpteenth time that he had heard such unacceptable racist slurs from rival fans during a game in Spain’s top-tier football league.
“It wasn’t the first time, nor the second or the third. Racism is normal in La Liga. The competition thinks it’s normal, so the federation and opponents encourage it. I am very sorry. The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano and Messi, today belongs to the racists,” tweeted the Brazilian player.
