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Spanish authorities have proposed a €4,000 ($4,625) fine for a Real Oviedo supporter accused of racially abusing Barcelona forward Marcus Rashford during a La Liga match in September.
The alleged incident occurred on September 25, when Barcelona defeated Oviedo 3–1. According to Spain’s anti-violence commission, the fan was overheard making a racial slur in Spanish directed at Rashford.
“La Liga detected the images on social media and filed a complaint with the National Police,” read a statement from the league. “Subsequently, analysis of footage from the stadium's Organizational Control Unit (UCO) cameras allowed for the identification of the alleged perpetrator. The processing of this proposal will be contingent upon the final decisions made in the criminal proceedings.”
The authorities have not yet confirmed when a final ruling will be made.
The case marks the latest episode in Spanish football’s ongoing struggle with racism from the stands. While the sport continues to thrive commercially, repeated incidents of discriminatory abuse have stained its image and cast doubt on the effectiveness of disciplinary measures.
Recent convictions for racist abuse aimed at Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior were hailed as a breakthrough, yet critics argue that casual racism remains widespread across the league.
Rashford, 27, currently on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United, has long been a target of racist attacks both online and in stadiums. In 2021, a man was jailed in England for posting racist comments about the England international following his missed penalty in the Euro 2020 final. Another was sentenced to six weeks in prison in 2022 for similar abuse on social media.
As Spanish football continues to grapple with the issue of racism, many question whether financial penalties and criminal charges alone can address the deeper cultural problem that persists within parts of the game’s fanbase.
Featured Image Creditt: Pexels / Anil Sharma, Unsplash / Ibrahima Toure
