Spanish footballer Hugo Mallo has been convicted of sexually assaulting a woman dressed as a mascot before a La Liga match in 2019, a Barcelona court ruled on Thursday. The incident has sent shockwaves through Spanish football and reignited discussions about player conduct and safety measures for support staff at sporting events.
Mallo, 33, who was playing for Celta Vigo at the time of the incident, was found guilty of inappropriately touching the breasts of a woman wearing a parakeet costume representing rival team Espanyol. The assault occurred as players lined up before kick-off, a routine pre-match ritual that turned into a criminal act.
Judge Salvador Roi Tejedor, in his ruling, stated: “Upon reaching the height of the victim, disguised as a parakeet, the accused, with the intention of satisfying his libidinous desire and of undermining the sexual indemnity of the same, put his hands under the costume and touched her breasts, forcing the victim to step back and push the accused away with her right hand.”
The court has imposed a fine of €6,000 (£5,000) on Mallo and ordered him to pay €1,000 (£843) in damages to the victim. Additionally, he will be responsible for covering the legal costs of the proceedings.
Mallo, who currently plays for Greek side Aris, maintains his innocence and has announced his intention to appeal the sentence. In a statement posted on Instagram alongside a video of the incident, Mallo wrote, “I continue to categorically deny the facts attributed to me in the ruling.” He acknowledged that while turning around after the greetings, his hand could have touched the waist of the mascot, but “absolutely denied” touching the mascot’s breasts.
The conviction has sparked debate within the Spanish football community about player behavior and the safety of individuals working in proximity to athletes during matches. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of current protocols to prevent such incidents and protect vulnerable staff members.
