The Case: The former Celta Vigo captain was accused of sexual abuse for improperly touching a female stadium mascot on the pitch prior to a La Liga match against Espanyol in April 2019.
Legal Outcome: In September 2024, a criminal court in Barcelona found Mallo guilty of sexual abuse, ordering him to pay a financial penalty and court costs.
Summary & Case Details: Hugo Mallo served for over a decade as a cornerstone defender and club captain for Celta Vigo, amassing hundreds of appearances in La Liga. His career became entangled in a unique criminal trial originating from an incident on 24 April 2019, during the pre-match protocol before a fixture against Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium. As players carried out the traditional pre-game handshakes, the woman working inside the mascot costume alleged that Mallo reached under her costume and touched her breasts without consent. The victim filed a formal complaint with Spanish authorities, initiating a lengthy judicial inquiry. Mallo repeatedly denied the allegations, maintaining through his legal representatives that his movements were standard sportsmanship gestures and that no improper touching had occurred. Television broadcast footage from the match was submitted as central evidence during court proceedings in Barcelona. In September 2024, the presiding judge ruled against Mallo, finding him guilty of sexual abuse under Spanish law. The court held that the evidence established non-consensual contact, ordering the defender to pay a daily fine penalty alongside financial compensation to the victim, establishing a legal precedent regarding conduct within professional sporting arenas.
Source Own work
Author Harpagornis
LICENCE CC BY-SA 4.0 – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en
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