Fan sentenced to prison for racist abuse of Iñaki Williams

The incident has not been forgotten, and now the verdict is finally enforced.

Details: In January 2020, Iñaki Williams, a player from Athletic Bilbao, faced racist abuse from Espanyol fans. The match, part of La Liga’s 21st round, took place on a Saturday at the Cornella-El Prat Stadium in Barcelona, ending in a 1-1 draw.

Nearly five years later, a section of the Barcelona Court of Appeals has sentenced the fan to one year in prison and a €1,086 fine for inciting hatred. This came after an agreement with the prosecution, which had initially sought a two-year prison sentence, and La Liga, which acted as a plaintiff. The fan will also be banned from attending football matches for two years.

The accused, referred to in court documents as K.G.B., is the first football supporter in Spain to face prosecution for a hate crime related to racist insults at a stadium.

However, sources indicate that the defendant might avoid serving prison time if the Barcelona appeals chamber makes a different final ruling.

Reminder: A fair decision! UEFA fined Athletic Bilbao.