In a recent development in Spanish football, Hugo Mallo, the defender currently with Aris in Super League Greece, has been found guilty of sexual assault.
This verdict follows an incident from 2019 involving a woman who served as the mascot Periquita for Espanyol.
Originally, Mallo was scheduled to appear in court at Barcelona’s Ciutat de la Justicia last year, but the proceedings were postponed.
The case, which started in 2019, has now entered its fifth year.
The charges stem from an April 2019 match where Celta Vigo, Mallo’s former team, played against Espanyol at their Stage Front Stadium.
Video footage from that game appears to show Mallo, who was then the team captain, engaging in what seems to be an inappropriate embrace with the mascot.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred during the pre-match ceremonies, and the victim, referred to as Ana, first provided her testimony in June 2019.
Mallo offered his testimony a month later and requested dismissal of the case, a request that was denied.
Ana reported that Mallo had inappropriately touched her breasts after reaching under her mascot costume.
Court Ruling and Financial Compensation
Recently, the court ruled that Mallo is guilty of the assault.
According to AS, the judge has mandated that Mallo pay approximately £844 in compensation to Ana, plus interest.
Additionally, he is required to pay around £8.44 daily for 20 months, totaling over £5,000 more.
Mallo will also cover procedural costs.
Despite the conviction, he will not face the minimum sentence of 18 months due to a lack of contrition shown by him.
Reactions and Next Steps
Mallo, now 33, has consistently denied the accusations and may consider appealing the conviction.
Ana, who has maintained her anonymity, detailed in her victim statement that Mallo’s actions involved touching her breasts inappropriately.
The case, which was initially categorized as sexual assault by the Ninth Section of the Provincial Court of Barcelona in May 2021, highlighted concerns raised by the footage of the incident.
The judge noted that the interaction with the mascot lasted unusually long and indicated that something inappropriate occurred.
Ana, who had been with the club as Periquita since 2006, reportedly left her role in 2021.
The ruling from Criminal Court 19 in Barcelona concluded that Mallo’s actions were driven by a desire to satisfy his own libidinous impulses and that his behavior was an assault on Ana’s sexual dignity.
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