June 16 (UPI) -- Four people were convicted of hate crimes and threats against Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr., and sentenced to between 14 and 22 months in prison, Spain's La Liga announced Monday.
"This ruling marks a strong step forward in the fight against hate and discrimination in sport," La Liga said in a news release. "La Liga reaffirms its unwavering commitment to eradicating any form of racism, violence or intolerance both inside and outside football stadiums."
The charges stemmed from an incident Jan. 26, 2023, before Real Madrid faced Atletico Madrid in a Copa del Rey match in Madrid. The group was accused of hanging a mannequin -- dressed in a Vinicius Jr. shirt -- from a bridge near their training facility. They also produced a banner that read "Madrid hates Real."
Police arrested four people in 2023 after La Liga filed a complaint.
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