Cops in Spain have jailed three people in connection with racist abuse directed at the Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr during a game on Sunday.

According to a tweet from the police, the three individuals are between the ages of 18 and 21.

Vinicius Jr racially abused by Valencia fans: 

The Brazil star, who is black, has been subjected to such vitriol multiple times this year. The latest incident sparked anger in Spain and Brazil during an away game at Valencia.

The match was halted in the second half as an enraged Vinicius reported rival fans to the referee. Following the game, in which the 22-year-old was afterwards given a red card for violent behaviour, he said: “La Liga belongs to racists.”

La Liga president Javier Tebas replied on Twitter by writing Vinicius twice did not turn up for an appointment to discuss what it “can do in matters of racism”, continuing: “Before you criticise and smear La Liga, you ought to inform yourself correctly.”

But football federation boss Luis Rubiales said Spanish football had “a serious issue that even stains an entire club, a whole fan base, an entire team, an entire nation”.

Spanish prosecutors will now determine whether to seek a criminal probe.

The Brazilian country said the incident was “yet another unacceptable episode”.

It has demanded urgent discussions with Spanish ministers, prosecutors and the football union. Before, Spanish police arrested four people questioned with hanging an image of Vinicius from a bridge in Madrid in January.

The figure emerged ahead of a game between Real and their opponents in the capital, Atletico. Its neck hung under a banner saying: “Madrid hates Real”.

Team-mates and Valencia footballers ushered him away before ref Ricardo de Burgos and Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti spoke to him.

Vinicius was subsequently sent off for the first time in La Liga for his involvement in a mass brawl between the two teams of players.

Ancelotti said: “What we saw today is inappropriate – a whole stadium chanting racist slurs.”