The former Celta de Vigo footballer, Hugo Mallo, already knows the final sanction he will face for the crime of sexual abuse committed against the person who embodied the mascot of RCD Espanyol in April 2019.
The sentence, handed down by the 21st Criminal Court of Barcelona, establishes a financial penalty that the player must begin to pay within a maximum period of ten days from the publication of the ruling.
What Hugo Mallo was accused of and what happened
The events occurred during the greeting protocol prior to the Espanyol-Celta match played on April 24, 2019. At that time, Mallo took advantage of the presentation corridor to touch the breasts of the woman who was performing inside the costume of the Perica mascot.
Although the episode initially went unnoticed, the victim made it public in September 2024, generating a strong media reaction and the opening of a judicial process. Three months later, the Provincial Court confirmed the initial resolution of the case after dismissing the appeal filed by the former player, leaving the conviction for sexual abuse firm.
What are the penalties received by the player?
The sentence includes a fine of 7,000 euros, which Mallo must pay in daily installments of ten euros over a period of 20 months. This amount does not include court costs or the victim’s representation expenses, which are also borne by the convicted party.
In addition, the ex-footballer must pay 1,000 euros in moral damages. According to Diario AS, the plaintiff plans to donate this amount to RCD Espanyol as a token of gratitude for the institutional support received throughout the process.
The judge has given Mallo ten days to inform how it will comply with the payment of the penalties or, failing that, whether it will request an alternative payment in installments or a deferral.
A blow to his sporting future
The conviction comes at a critical time for Hugo Mallo, who is currently without a team after leaving Aris Thessaloniki last summer. The lack of offers and the judicial confirmation of the crime further complicate his professional situation, leaving the continuity of his soccer career up in the air.
With the sentence now final, the last step pending is for the former player to make the payments established by the 21st Criminal Court, which will mark the closure of a case that has had a significant impact on his public image and his sporting career.
