On June 5, 11 days after arresting those involved in separate racist incidents targeting Vinicius, Spain's State Commission for Combating Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport issued the fines.

Four people were fined $65,000 and banned from sports venues for two years for allegedly hanging an effigy wearing a Vinicius jersey on a bridge near Real's training ground, with a noose around its neck and the words "Madrid hates Real" on the morning before the Copa del Rey derby between Real and Atletico in January 2023.

Spanish police said they had identified four suspects through DNA evidence, witnesses and other intelligence. Three of the men were “radicals from a Madrid fan group” who had previously been considered “high risk”. The ages of those arrested were 19, 21, 23 and 24.

Three others were fined $5,300 and banned from sports venues for a year for making racist gestures towards Vinicius during Real's match against Valencia at Mestalla Stadium in round 35 of La Liga on May 21.

Vinicius's racist abuse by Valencia fans has become a hot topic in Spain in recent weeks. Many famous players and experts have spoken out to defend Vinicius, while the Brazilian government has asked the Spanish government and La Liga to take strict measures against racists. Brazil will play friendly matches against Guinea on June 17 and Senegal three days later, as part of an anti-racism campaign. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has also just announced that it will play a friendly against Brazil in March 2024 in a match calling for the elimination of racism under the slogan: "We are all the same".

Real filed a complaint with the State Attorney General's Office, specifically with the Office of the Prosecutor against Discrimination Crimes, so that the truth can be investigated and responsibilities can be clarified. The Bernabeu owner also cited Article 124 of the Spanish Constitution, which states that the functions of the Prosecutor's Office are to promote the administration of justice to protect the legality and rights of citizens as well as the public interest.

On May 23, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) imposed a penalty of closing the Mario Kempes stand at the Mestalla stadium - where the fans who insulted Vinicius - for five matches and ordered Valencia to pay a fine of 50,000 USD. Valencia said that the fine and the deprivation of the right to attend the stadium of fans who were not involved in the unfortunate incident was "a completely disproportionate, unfair and unprecedented measure", and has appealed the penalty.

The RFEF later reduced the fine, with Valencia only having to pay $20,000. However, the Mestalla stadium's Mario Kempes stand being closed for five matches remained in place.

La Liga chief Javier Tebas said at a press conference on May 25 that the league could eradicate racism within six months if it were given stronger sanctions. Tebas denied that Spain was a racist country, but acknowledged concerns about the league’s global image in the wake of the latest allegations. However, he did not worry that the issue would deter black players from signing for La Liga clubs.

La Liga has set up dedicated reporting channels, via email and its official website, to speed up the identification of those engaging in racist behaviour. Since the establishment of La Liga's integrity and security department in 2015, according to documents provided by the league, just over 10 match-related racist incidents have been reported, an average of just under two a year.

However, Spain's top flight also listed nine separate incidents involving Vinicius since December 2022, four of which were resolved and only two were found to have racist undertones, with the clubs involved allowed to impose their own sanctions.

Hong Duy