Spanish police have arrested four individuals accused of orchestrating an online hate campaign targeting Real Madrid forward, Vinicius Jr. The campaign allegedly encouraged supporters to racially abuse the 24-year-old Brazilian player, instructing them to wear black face masks to conceal their identities, according to police reports.
Vinicius Jr., who has faced multiple instances of racial abuse throughout his career, became emotional earlier this year during a press conference, stating that he felt "less and less" inclined to play football due to the repeated harassment.
The arrests occurred on October 14 and 15, and the men were released as the investigation continues. Authorities did not disclose the identities of the suspects, and no legal representatives have issued statements on their behalf.
The investigation, still ongoing, has prompted significant public concern after the online hate campaign gained widespread attention. The first police detentions related to this case took place on September 29, ahead of a La Liga match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. The campaign, which included the hashtag "Metropolitano with a mask," was reportedly used to promote racist behavior at Atletico Madrid's Metropolitano Stadium.
This is not the first time Vinicius Jr. has been the target of racial abuse. In June 2023, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for racially abusing him during a match in May. The forward has since vowed that he and his teammates will leave the field if they experience any further incidents of racism this season, calling for matches to be stopped as a way to combat racism in football.
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