Overview

• The Court of Instruction No. 18 in Barcelona has archived the criminal investigation into alleged racist insults directed at Real Madrid’s Vinícius Jr. during an October 2023 match against FC Barcelona.
• The judge determined the evidence did not meet the legal threshold for hate-crime prosecution, citing a lack of victim impact, public effect, and repeated conduct.
• Vinícius Jr. testified in January 2025 that he neither heard nor understood the alleged insults during the match, which factored into the court's decision.
• The case has been referred to the Independent Authority for Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination (AITND) for potential administrative sanctions against the alleged perpetrators.
• Real Madrid and La Liga have announced appeals against the court’s decision to close the criminal investigation, seeking further legal action.