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A Real Oviedo supporter has been arrested after making racist gestures towards Kylian Mbappe during his side’s La Liga clash with Real Madrid.
The incident occurred on August 24 at the Carlos Tartiere stadium, shortly after Mbappé opened the scoring in the 37th minute. The fan was seen imitating a monkey with both gestures and noises from the home stands.
Spain’s National Police confirmed the arrest, describing the act as both “a crime against moral integrity” and “a hate crime.” The supporter was later identified through images and videos shared on television and social media. He has since given a statement at the Oviedo Court of Instruction No. 1.
The Professional Football League (LFP) had already reported the case after the match, saying the footage spread rapidly online and “reached a much larger audience.”
🚨 Detenido un aficionado del Real Oviedo por gestos y sonidos racistas durante el partido contra el Madrid.
❌ Se enfrenta a delitos de odio, sanciones económicas y prohibición de acceso a estadios. pic.twitter.com/KX9aVbQXny
— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) September 10, 2025
Tough sanctions possible
As well as criminal proceedings, the supporter faces an administrative sanction under Spain’s Law against violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sport. That could mean fines of up to €650,000 and bans from entering stadiums. The offence also falls under Spain’s Penal Code, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to three years.
The case has been referred to the Delegate Prosecutor’s Office for Criminal Protection for Equality and Against Discrimination.
Further racist chants
The arrest follows further reports of racist abuse directed at Real Madrid players during the same game. According to Mundo Deportivo, the RFEF Disciplinary Committee has opened an extraordinary investigation into crowd incidents after La Liga submitted a complaint.
The committee confirmed that monkey chants of “uh, uh, uh” were heard twice — once in the 37th minute when Mbappe scored, and again in the 63rd minute when Vinicius Jr came on as a substitute.
A report stated: “A group of home fans, located on the side of the pitch, where the visiting players were celebrating and arm in arm, uttered the monkey onomatopoeia, ‘uh, uh,’ without any prior provocation or discussion.”
The same noises were repeated at Vinicius, who has been targeted by racist abuse in La Liga before.
🚨 Real Oviedo fans were holding beach balls at the stadium against Real Madrid to mock Vinícius Junior for not winning the Ballon d’Or last year. pic.twitter.com/3reug62hSS
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) August 25, 2025
Players respond
Vinicius reacted angrily from the pitch, pointing at the stands and shouting back at the abuse. Mbappe, meanwhile, gestured defiantly towards the crowd after scoring, holding his finger to his ear.
The game itself, which Real Madrid won, was also disrupted when Oviedo fans threw beach balls onto the pitch to mock Madrid’s players.
The RFEF disciplinary process could take up to 40 days, with a possible sanction for Real Oviedo expected by the end of September.
