Spanish footballer Hugo Mallo convicted of sexually assaulting woman
Hugo Mallo, a renowned Spanish footballer, has been found guilty of sexually abusing a mascot before a La Liga match in 2019. The player touched the breasts of the woman donning Espanyol's parakeet costume. This occurred as players were assembling for their pre-match greetings. A Barcelona court on Thursday ordered the former captain of Celta Vigo to pay a fine of €6,000 ($6,652) and an additional €1,000 ($1,109) in damages to the victim.
Mallo denies allegations, has the option to appeal
Mallo, 33, has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to the incident. He now has the opportunity to challenge the court's decision. The case was initially dismissed but was later revived on appeal. During this period, Mallo issued a statement on Instagram urging for "respect," and highlighted that neither Celta nor Espanyol had found any evidence of his misconduct.
Mallo to bear legal costs of the proceedings
In addition to the fines and damages, Mallo is also required to cover the legal expenses of the proceedings. This adds to his financial obligations arising from this case. The court's decision marks a significant development in a case that has been under scrutiny since 2019. Mallo now plays for the Greek club Aris.
