Marcus Rashford Barcelona forward during La Liga match against Real Oviedo
Spanish authorities are taking firm action against racism once again, as a Real Oviedo supporter faces a €4,000 (£3,521 / $4,625) fine for allegedly racially abusing Marcus Rashford during Barcelona’s 3–1 victory in La Liga on September 25.
The Spanish Anti-Violence Commission announced the proposed fine after La Liga detected images on social media showing the supporter directing a racial slur in Spanish towards the Manchester United loanee.
According to the official statement released Thursday, La Liga acted swiftly, filing a complaint with the National Police after identifying the footage online.
“La Liga detected the images on social media and filed a complaint with the National Police,” the statement read.
“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.”
While the case is still under review, the proposed fine highlights Spain’s continued effort to clamp down on racist abuse in football — an issue that has plagued the league in recent years.
Sadly, this is not the first time Marcus Rashford has been the target of racial abuse.
In 2021, a man who livestreamed racist insults at Rashford, Bukayo Saka, and Jadon Sancho following England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison.
Another man, Justin Lee Price, was also jailed for six weeks in 2022 for directing racial slurs at Rashford on social media.
These incidents underscore the persistent challenge of tackling racism in football — both online and in stadiums.
Despite the off-field incident, Rashford has continued to shine for Barcelona, where he joined on loan from Manchester United in the summer.
The 28-year-old currently sits as joint-top assist provider in La Liga with five assists in 10 matches, and he’s been equally impressive in the Champions League, scoring four goals in three games.
Only Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé have scored more in the competition this season.
His performances have not only silenced doubters but also reignited his reputation as one of Europe’s most dynamic forwards — a true example of perseverance in the face of adversity.
The latest case comes amid increasing pressure on Spanish football authorities to tackle discrimination more decisively, especially following past controversies involving other Black players, including Vinicius Jr.
By identifying and penalizing offenders, La Liga hopes to set a precedent that racism will not be tolerated — on or off the pitch.
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