Hugo Mallo, former captain of Spanish football club Celta Vigo, has been found guilty of sexual assault following an incident that occurred in April 2019.
The assault took place when Celta Vigo visited Espanyol for a La Liga match, during which Mallo groped a woman playing the role of the opposing team’s mascot.
The victim, referred to in court as Ana (not her real name), was working as Espanyol’s female mascot, dressed as a parakeet in line with the club’s nickname, “Los Periquitos” (The Parakeets).
According to Ana’s statement, Mallo, after greeting the male mascot, approached her, placed his hands under her costume, and groped her breasts. “He grabbed her breasts with his hands and began to make movements,” her statement read.
Ana reported the incident the day after the match, and in May 2021, the case was ruled as sexual assault. Mallo, now 33 and playing for Greek club Aris, has been ordered to pay the victim £844 in compensation and £8.44 per day for 20 months, amounting to a total of £5,000, along with court costs. Although he faced a potential prison sentence of over a year, he avoided jail time with the financial penalty.
The camera caught the incident, and the footage played a significant role in the court’s decision.
Judge Salvador Roi Tejedor, who presided over the case, remarked on the footage, noting that the interaction between Mallo and the mascot lasted longer than typical greetings. In reaction to Mallo’s actions, the judge explained that Ana moved away and pushed him back.
In his ruling, Judge Tejedor stated that Mallo “put his hands under the costume and touched her breasts, forcing Ana to step back and push the accused away with her right hand,” an action that clearly demonstrated the non-consensual nature of the encounter.
The case has drawn attention to the importance of addressing and penalising sexual misconduct, even within the realm of professional sports.
