Former Real Club Celta de Vigo captain Hugo Mallo has been found guilty of sexually abusing an Espanyol employee who worked as the team’s mascot before a match. The judge ruled that the footballer will have to pay a fine of 6,000 euros (ten euros per day for 20 months) and also pay him 1,000 euros in compensation plus interest for moral damages. The minimum sentence of 18 months is not imposed because there was no “repentance of the accused towards the victim”.
The Criminal Court number 19 of Barcelona condemns him for acts committed on April 24, 2019 on the lawn of the Stage Front stadium, moments before playing a first division match Espanyol-Celta. During the greeting between the two teams in front of the public, the current player of Aris Salonika allegedly committed the abuse by hitting the female mascot of Espanyol. The victim, who at the time played the role of the parakeet, preferred to remain anonymous.
“When Hugo Mallo reached the animals, he shook the parakeet’s hand as is usually done, but when he reached her, who at that moment was playing the role of the parakeet, he put his hands under the costume and “He touched the breasts,” states the complaint filed the day after the match.
The alleged victim personally contacted the Espanyol management on April 25, 2019, who made themselves available to pay for legal assistance if necessary. Also with Hugo Mallo’s former team, of which he was a part for 14 seasons, until last August. In this case, it was through an email sent the same evening of the alleged abuse. Celta Vigo discussed the matter privately with the player.
