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Spanish FA fines Valencia €45,000, shuts stadium’s stand for Vinicius racism

Valencia have been fined €45,000 and will have to close the stand where Real Madrid forward, Vinicius Jr, was racially abused for five games.

The Mario Kempes Stand, where the chants targeting Vinicius originated in Valencia’s 1-0 win on Sunday, will be closed for Valencia’s one remaining home game this season and the first four matches of next season.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) made the declaration after a ruling by the Spanish FA on Tuesday, May 23.

Vinicius’ red card, issued in the wake of the abuse suffered in Valencia’s victory over Real Madrid on Sunday night, was also overturned by the RFEF.

The Spanish FA, in a statement, said: “The Competition Committee has sanctioned Valencia CF with the partial closure of the Mestalla stadium for five matches, specifically the Mario Kempes South Stand, following the events that occurred during the match between the team and Real Madrid.

“It is considered proven that, as reflected by the referee in his report, there were racist shouts at Vinicius, altering the normal course of the match and the infractions are considered very serious.

“In addition, an economic sanction of €45,000 is imposed on Valencia.

“The RFEF Competition Committee considers that the referee’s assessment was determined by the omission of the entirety of the play that took place, which affected the refereeing decision.

“The fact that he was deprived of a decisive part of the facts led him to adopt an arbitrary decision. And this is because it was impossible for him to properly assess what happened.”

In its full report, the RFEF found proven that Vinicius was subject to racist abuse when the Real Madrid bus first arrived at the Mestalla.

During the game, it added he had objects thrown at him in the 71st minute from the Kempes Stand, before racist chanting followed in the 73rd minute – when the referee first alerted the match delegate to make an announcement over the PA system.

The Star