Footballer found guilty of sexual assault for groping female mascot dressed as a parrot

Hugo Mallo, the former captain of Celta Vigo, has been convicted of sexual assault for inappropriately touching a woman who was performing as a mascot for a rival team.

The incident occurred in April 2019 when Celta Vigo travelled to take on Espanyol in La Liga.

Espanyol are known as Los Periquitos (The Parakeets) and their mascots dress up in costumes of the birds.

The victim, refereed to as Ana although this is not her real name, made her initial complaint the day after the game.

Her victim statement read: ‘When Hugo Mallo arrived (to greet) the mascots, he gave his hand to the (male) parakeet (Periquito) as is usually done, but when he reached Ms. Ana, who at that time was playing the role of the (female) parakeet, he introduced his hands under the costume and touched her breasts.

‘According to the declarant, he grabbed her breasts with his hands and began to make movements.’

The case was eventually deemed to constitute sexual assault in May 2021 and Mallo has now been found guilty of the crime.

He could have been jailed for over a year, but instead must pay the victim compensation of £844 plus interest, as well as around £8.44 a day for 20 months, totalling around £5,000, plus costs.

Judge Salvador Roi Tejedor told a Spanish court of the incident, which was caught on camera: ‘Although it seems to occur quickly, it lasts longer than the rest of the greetings made previously to the mascot, so we do see that something is happening with the mascot (Periquita) and the player, since the mascot moves, (she) takes away (her) hand from the player and stands behind the male mascot,’ the judge told the court.

‘And we can see from the position of the player that he may have incurred said touches.’

The judge ruled: ‘Upon reaching the height of the victim, disguised as a parakeet, the accused, with the intention of satisfying his libidinous desire and of undermining the sexual indemnity of the same, put his hands under the costume and touched her breasts, forcing Ana to step back and push the accused away with her right hand.’

33-year-old Mallo currently plays for Greek club Aris.

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