Racial abuse against Vinícius Júnior brings arrests and partial closure of Valencia stadium

By TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer

MADRID (AP) — Spanish police say they have arrested seven people accused of racially abusing Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior. Three have been arrested in Valencia for alleged abuse against Vinícius in a Spanish league match on Sunday. Four were arrested in Madrid for allegedly hanging an effigy of the player off a highway bridge in January. Spanish soccer officials fined Valencia in 45,000 euros and closed part of its stadium for the next five games. The Spanish federation’s competition’s committee also took the unusual decision to annul the red card shown to Vinícius after an altercation with Valencia players late in Sunday’s match.