Four people have been found guilty of a hate crime by a Madrid court after they were involved in a disturbing act targeting Real Madrid player Vinícius Jr. The court made its decision on Monday, June 16.

The incident happened in January 2023 before a Copa del Rey match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. A banner that read “Madrid hates Real” and a black inflatable doll dressed like Vinícius Jr. in his No. 20 jersey were hung from a bridge in Madrid.

One of the four people got a 15-month prison sentence for the hate crime and another seven months for making threats, since he shared the video of the act online. The other three each got seven months for the hate crime and another seven months for threats.

Although they were sentenced, none of them will go to jail. Their sentences were suspended because they apologized in a written letter to Vinícius Jr., Real Madrid, LaLiga, and the Spanish Football Federation.

The person who posted the video online is also banned from working with children or in sports and youth activities for more than four years. The others received a ban of just over three and a half years.

They were also fined. The main person involved must pay €1,084, while the others must each pay €720. All four are not allowed to go within 1,000 meters of Vinícius Jr., his home, or workplace. They are also banned from football stadiums during LaLiga and RFEF games.

To keep their suspended sentence and avoid jail, they must also finish an educational course on equality and anti-discrimination.

As of now, neither the court nor Vinícius Jr. has made a public statement about the ruling.