Fan of Spanish descent confined for 12 months due to racial insults towards Iñaki Williams
In a landmark decision, a Barcelona fan has been sentenced for racist discrimination against Iñaki Williams, a player from Athletic Bilbao. The sentence was handed down by the Barcelona Court in 2021, following an incident that occurred during a league match between Espanyol and Athletic on January 25, 2020.
The crime was committed during the second half of the game, when Williams was substituted, and monkey noises were shouted from a section of the stands as he headed towards the bench. The victim, Inaki Williams, a forward for Athletic, reported feeling "humiliated" by the racist slurs.
The sentencing was the result of an agreement between the parties, with the fan admitting the facts of the hate crime of racist discrimination. The police investigations allowed the identification of three fans, one of them a minor, who were allegedly involved in the racist insults.
The Mossos d'Esquadra were ordered to investigate the incident by the Public Prosecutor's Office. The investigation involved examining security camera images and obtaining information from Espanyol about the holders of the seats from where the shouts came.
LaLiga, the Spanish professional football league, reported these facts to the section of hate crimes and discrimination of the Provincial Public Prosecutor's Office of Barcelona. Initially, the public prosecutor asked for a sentence of two years in prison, a ban from attending a stadium for five years, and a fine of 5,400 euros. However, the final sentences were lower due to the accused's admission of guilt and participation in the sentencing process by videoconference.
The accused was sentenced to one year in prison, a fine of 1,080 euros, and a ban from attending any football stadium for the next two years. The sentence was for a crime against the exercise of fundamental rights and public liberties. LaLiga initially asked for the same penalty as the Ministry of Public.
Williams testified by videoconference in 2021, recounting the impact the racist slurs had on him. The sentencing was not as planned on a specific Wednesday, marking a significant moment in the fight against racism in Spanish football.
