Following weeks of investigation, the Anti-Violence committee in Spain has finally issued a fine on fans who racially abused Lamine Yamal at Santiago Bernabeu earlier this season.
Yamal, who is of Equatorial Guinean and Moroccan heritage, was targeted by a small section of Real Madrid supporters during Barcelona’s 4-0 win in El Clasico earlier in the season.
These fans hurled xenophobic insults at Yamal after he celebrated his goal in front of the Real Madrid home supporters.
Yamal received immense support after the disappointing incident, with even Vinicius Junior empathising with the Barcelona forward, having been a subject of racial abuse himself.
Anti-Violence Committee’s fine on Real Madrid fans
As reported by COPE, the Anti-Violence Committee has proposed a €5,000 fine and a 12-month ban from attending sporting events for two individuals who were caught directing racist insults and gestures at Yamal.
In addition to the proposed punishment for the fans who abused Yamal, the Anti-Violence Committee has also proposed fines and bans for other Real Madrid fans who were involved in racist incidents during the match.
Racism against black players remains a recurring and worrying theme in La Liga (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
This includes two fans who were caught directing racist insults at other Barcelona players, as well as a fan who physically assaulted two Barcelona supporters outside the stadium.
Real Madrid, for their part, had earlier launched an investigation into the matter and identified these said individuals. The club have also condemned the actions of these fans in a public statement.
The solidarity between Barcelona and Real Madrid in fighting against racism is crucial at a time when the relationship between these two clubs have deteriorated significantly.