MADRID - Valencia says it will appeal the partial closure of its stadium following the racial abuse directed at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior in a Spanish league match. The club says the punishment is "unfair and disproportionate."
Spanish soccer's competition committee fined Valencia in $48,500 and closed one of the sections of Mestalla Stadium for five games in what is the strongest ever punishment for a club in a case of racism in Spain.
The punishment was part of a strong response by soccer officials and Spanish authorities following an outpouring of support for Vinicius.
