Espanyol Supporter Avoids Prison for Racial Abuse
A supporter of Espanyol, facing accusations of racially abusing Athletic Bilbao player Iñaki Williams during a LaLiga encounter five years ago, reached a plea agreement on Wednesday, thereby evading prison. A court in Barcelona disclosed that the unnamed individual will receive a one-year prison term, but he will not serve any time behind bars as part of the arrangement.
Plea Agreement Details
Additionally, he has agreed to a three-year prohibition from attending football matches and must pay a fine exceeding €1,000 (approximately $1,165).
Prosecutors had originally pushed for a two-year prison sentence after the fan was reported to have made monkey noises and gestures directed at Williams, who is Black, during the January 2020 match that ended in a 1-1 draw. The incident was not an isolated one, as multiple attendees targeted Williams while he was walking past the crowd after his substitution. However, the authorities were only able to definitively identify this particular fan for prosecution.
Espanyol’s Response
Espanyol noted at that time that it had singled out a total of 12 fans implicated in the racial abuse of Williams and had taken measures against them. Television footage captured Williams approaching the section of Espanyol supporters who were heckling him post-substitution.
Addressing Racism in Spanish Football
This case coincides with a growing trend in Spain to address racism in football. In May, a landmark ruling found five Valladolid fans guilty of racially insulting Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior, marking the first legal classification of such behavior as a hate crime in Spanish football stadiums. Previous cases include three Valencia fans receiving eight-month prison sentences for racially abusing Vinícius, a significant move against racism in professional soccer outside of the hate crime context.
Recent Incidents
Earlier this year, a match between Athletic and Espanyol was briefly halted due to racist chants, prompting the referee to implement an anti-racism protocol roughly 20 minutes into the first half. Williams later criticized these chants, which targeted his teammate Maroan Sannadi. Furthermore, Nico Williams, Iñaki’s brother, shared that he too faced similar racial insults during a game in Madrid against Atlético Madrid last year.
