Former Celta Vigo defender Hugo Mallo has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman who was working as a mascot for Espanyol.
The incident took place on April 24, 2019, minutes before the start of Espanyol’s La Liga match against Celta Vigo at Stage Front Stadium in Catalonia.
Mallo, now at Greek club Aris Thassaloniki, was accused of touching the breasts of the woman, who was dressed as a parakeet — the official mascot of the Catalan side.
Prosecutors said Mallo, 33, groped the women while players from both teams lined up to shake hands before kick-off.
Appearing in court on Wednesday, Mallo, who denied any wrongdoing, was found guilty of sexual assault and ordered to pay a €1,000 fine to the victim and cover her legal costs.
The defender has 10 days to decide whether he wishes to appeal against the decision.
Mallo came through Celta Vigo’s youth system and went on to make 449 appearances across a 14-year stay at the club.
He joined Brazilian side Internacional in July 2023 and played 20 games during his single season at the club before making the move to Greece earlier this summer.
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