MADRID (AP) – Espanyol fans accused of humiliating racially athletic Bilbao forward Inayaki Williams in a Spanish league match five years ago, have accepted a deal to avoid prison time on Wednesday.
A Spanish court in Barcelona said the unnamed fans accepted a one-year sentence but did not spend time in prison as part of the deal. He also accepted a three-year ban from the football stadium and paid a fine of more than 1,000 euros ($1,165).
Prosecutors had sought a two-year prison sentence for fans who made monkey sounds and gestures towards Williams after being replaced by an athletic 1-1 draw at Espanyol in Barcelona in January 2020. The Spanish League has also joined the lawsuit with fans.
Multiple fans insulted the black Williams as players walked in front of the stands behind the goal after the players were replaced later in the game. Only one fan will be fully identified by the authorities.
Espanyol said at the time he identified 12 fans who racially humiliated Williams and took action against them.
TV images show Williams confronting the Espanyol fans section that untook him after he was replaced.
In May, Five Balladrid Fans The racially humiliated Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior in 2022 was found guilty in his first sentence in Spain for accusing racist insults at a football stadium as a hate crime.
Last year, three Valencia fans were given eight months’ sentence after pleading guilty to racially insulting a case of racism-related insult in Spanish professional football (not based on hate crimes).
That was the athletic league game at Espanyol earlier this year. It was easily interrupted Because of the racist chant of fans. The referee activates anti-racism protocols and halted the match in Barcelona for about 20 minutes in the first half. Williams then denounced the hymn, saying they targeted his teammate Malone Sannady.
Spain said Nico Williams, brother of Inaki Williams, said last year he was Targeting the screams of “monkeys” He kicked a corner in the first half of his match against Atletico Madrid in Madrid.
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