The conviction of former Celta Vigo captain Hugo Mallo, who was found guilty of sexual assaults against an Espanyol employee who worked as the team’s mascot before the match, has now been confirmed. The judge ruled in September 2024 that the footballer will have to pay a fine of 6,000 euros (ten euros per day for 20 months) and also be compensated in the amount of 1,000 euros plus interest for moral damage. The minimum penalty, which is an 18-month fine, was not imposed because there was “no repentance from the accused towards the victim,” according to what it reported.
The 19th Criminal Court in Barcelona convicted him of acts committed on April 24, 2019, on the grass of the Stage Front Stadium, moments before the match between Espanyol and Celta in the First Division. During the greeting between the two teams in front of the audience, the current Aris Thessaloniki player committed offense when he reached for Espanyol’s female mascot. The victim, who was then playing the role of a parrot, preferred not to reveal her identity.
“When Hugo Mallo reached the mascot, he shook hands with the parrot as was customary, but when he reached her, who was at that moment playing the role of the parrot, he put his hands under the costume and touched her breasts,” said the complaint, which was filed the day after the game.
The alleged victim contacted Espanyol’s board of directors personally on 25 April 2019, who made themselves available to pay for legal assistance if necessary. Also with Hugo Mallo’s former team, of which he was part of for 14 seasons, until last August. In this case, it was via an email, sent on the same night as the alleged abuse. Celta Vigo discussed the matter privately with the player.