Spanish football is having its racism confronted by verbal attacks by fans against black players.

Valencia FC will appeal the partial closure of its stadium and has called the punishment “unjust and disproportionate”. It follows racist abuse against Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior in a Spanish league match last Sunday.

The Spanish football federation late on Tuesday fined Valencia 45,000 euros and closed part of the Mestalla stadium for five matches. This is the harshest penalty ever imposed on a club in Spain for racism.

With the punishment, Spanish football officials and authorities probably also reacted to the mass demonstrations of solidarity for Vinícius.

The Brazilian has been repeatedly racially insulted since arriving in Spain five years ago, and has described his host country as “known for its racism”.

Valencia FC has complained that he was not given the opportunity to defend himself before the decision was made.

At the same time, the club said it was working with the authorities to identify those responsible. One fan involved in the incident has already been banned for life.

Meanwhile, Spanish police have arrested seven men in connection with various racist incidents directed at Vinicius Junior.

Fans have been fined and banned before for verbal attacks on Vinícius, but until now no one has been brought to justice in Spain for racially abusing a player. That could now change.