The racist insults uttered against the FC Barcelona players Lamine Yamal, Balde, Raphinha and Ansu Fati, recorded in some cases by television cameras in the stands of the Santiago Bernabéu, continue without consequences after 13 days since the celebration of the classic. Although in comparable situations the competent authorities acted quickly, in this case both the Prosecutor’s Office and the Competition Committee remain silent despite having received, as announced in the hours after the events, evidence from LaLiga and the Real Madrid intended in principle to facilitate the identification of offenders.
To cite two recent comparable incidents, in response to the insults against Vinícius in Mestalla that occurred on May 21, 2023, the Valencia Prosecutor’s Office acted ex officio and the Competition Committee took action on the matter immediately, sanctioning the Valencian club two days later. with the partial closure of the stadium for five games (Appeal reduced the punishment to three), a fine for the club of 45,000 euros and the withdrawal of a red card shown to Vinicius.
Regarding the Atlético-Real Madrid match on September 29, suspended for more than 15 minutes due to the throwing of objects in the Metropolitano, the Competition Committee sanctioned three matches of partial closure of one of the stands (later reduced to one) and the disbursement of 45,000 euros. The mattress club immediately identified the radical elements and some time later expelled a total of nine of its members for life.
FC Barcelona, which did not report the events of the classic, has maintained a very low media tone and has let LaLiga lead the purge of responsibilities. The affected footballers have not contributed to magnifying what happened either, but in their statements they have downplayed the matter. “In the end, the one who is on the field is me and the one who is celebrating the goal is also me… You don’t have to care if fans from outside call you four stupid things. It’s the other way around. When they tell you that, you are doing very well,” said Lamine Yamal.
13 days after the classic there is still no sanction or fine imposed against Madrid or the offenders
Rewinding to that day, it is worth remembering that the referee did not make any reference to the Bernabéu’s insults in writing the minutes and that it was social networks that turned on the alarm when, hours after the match ended, images began to appear that captured several fans insulting.
It was the next day, October 27, when Real Madrid was questioned and released an official statement in which, among other things, it promised to “open an investigation in order to locate and identify the authors of these regrettable and despicable insults, to be able to adopt the pertinent disciplinary and judicial measures.” The same day LaLiga confirmed the complaint “to the National Police of the racist incidents that occurred during the classic”, adding that “the insults were recorded by some of the spectators.” It was also assured that the complaint would be presented “to the Hate Section of the Information Brigade of the National Police, informing the Coordinating Court Prosecutor of the Hate Crimes and Discrimination Unit of the State Attorney General’s Office.” A day later, on October 28, LaLiga assured that Real Madrid had joined the cause “presenting information to collaborate in identifying those responsible.”
This newspaper has consulted sources from the Prosecutor’s Office and the issue, whether because it is still in the registration phase or because it has not reached its destination, has not yet been discussed.
For its part, the Competition Committee, which usually meets on Wednesdays to resolve different matters that may be sanctioned, has not commented on the insults audiovisually proven during the classic, among others, “Puto moro”, “shitty black man”. , “monkey” and “go sell tissues at a traffic light.” From November 26 until today, two Wednesdays have followed one another on the calendar.
In similar cases, the response of the competent authorities and the club is immediate.
The Anti-Violence Commission, which depends on the Higher Sports Council, met on Monday, October 28, two days after the classic, began to review the images and will not meet again until November 18.
Real Madrid, finally, has not announced any measures against any spectators who witnessed the classic. In Espanyol-Villarreal on September 26, a fan threw a plastic cup at the referee. Moments later he was identified.
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