The National Police have apprehended four individuals suspected of orchestrating a hate campaign targeting Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior during the build-up to the derby against Atlético Madrid.

The investigation began after LaLiga lodged three formal complaints regarding a series of inflammatory social media posts aimed at inciting Atlético fans to direct racial slurs toward Vinicius Jr. These posts surfaced in the days leading up to the derby at the Metropolitano Stadium. The posts were circulated under the hashtag #metropolitanoconmascarillas, with the intent of encouraging supporters to wear masks to evade police identification while shouting racially abusive insults.

The arrested individuals, aged between 24 and 26, are all known Atlético de Madrid fans. Their social media activity played a key role in spreading the hate campaign, which became a trending topic online, accumulating nearly 1.7 billion views, over 7,000 tweets, and 56,000 interactions. The widespread attention this campaign garnered sparked national and international concern, prompting law enforcement to act swiftly.

Following an in-depth investigation that involved extensive tracking and analysis of online data, the police were able to identify the perpetrators. On October 14 and 15, the four men were detained and are now facing charges of inciting hatred. They have been presented before the judicial authorities, with the investigation still ongoing. Authorities have indicated that further arrests may be forthcoming as they continue to probe the incident.

The tension during the match wasn’t limited to the online hate campaign. In the second half of the derby, ultras from the Frente Atlético section threw lighters at Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, forcing a temporary halt to the game. As a result, the stadium’s section housing these ultras was closed for a subsequent match against Leganés, and a fine of €3,000 was imposed.