Footballer found guilty of sexual assault after groping female mascot in parrot costume | Football

Hugo Mallo, the former captain of Celta Vigo, was found guilty of sexual assault after groping a woman who worked as a mascot for a rival team.

The incident occurred in April 2019 when Celta Vigo travelled to a match against Espanyol in La Liga.

Espanyol is known as Los Periquitos (The Parakeets) and their mascots dress up as birds.

The victim, identified as Ana (although that is not her real name), filed her first complaint the day after the game.

Her victim statement read: “When Hugo Mallo arrived to greet the mascots, he shook hands with the (male) parakeet (Periquito) as usual, but when he got to Ms. Ana, who was playing the role of the (female) parakeet at the time, he put his hands under the costume and touched her breasts.”

“According to the witness, he grabbed her breasts with his hands and started making movements.”

In May 2021, the case was finally classified as sexual assault and Mallo was now found guilty of the crime.

He could have been sentenced to over a year in prison, but instead must pay the victim compensation of £844 plus interest and around £8.44 a day for 20 months, a total of around £5,000 plus court costs.

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