Espanyol have accused Barcelona and Spanish defender Mapi Leon of “violating intimacy” of their player Daniela Caracas after an incident during a league game F.
In the 15th minute of the Derby match between Barcelona-based clubs on Sunday, Leon and Caracas clashed while the Espanyol player defended a certain part.
Leon then seemed to touch Caracas around the groin area.
Espanyol expressed the “dissatisfaction and their full condemnation” of the incident – a clip of which has gone viral on social media.
As a result of the Colombian Center Caracas has been “subject to hundreds of social media insults” as a result, Espanyol said.
The statement published on Espanyol’s website reads: “This is an action that we consider unacceptable and that should not go unnoticed.
“Although Caracas was unable to react at the time … later, when she agreed to what had happened, she became aware of the seriousness of the gesture, but chose not to react with anger to avoid a sanction disciplinary and team damage. “
Barcelona and Leon’s statement
Barcelona and Leon have since issued a statement on behalf of Leon, who denies the charges.
The statement read: “At no time was it, nor was it my goal, violated the intimacy of my professional friend Daniela Caracas.
“As the images show, she was part of an action of the game in which she deliberately touches me and I touch her leg by saying in reaction to the collision:” What is there with you? “There is no contact with its private parts, and certainly no purpose.
“The idea of touching the private parts of a colleague would never enter my head, it goes against my principles and I would never do such a thing.
“I condemn the harassment that Daniela seems to have suffered on social media, which has nothing to do with me, and I offer her the most sincere support.
“There has been noise and controversy about my name, aimed only at damage to my image and principles by spreading news and events manipulated for other purposes, identifying the week we are in.
“I am deeply upset and disappointed, and thus reserve the right to take legal actions against anyone who may seek to use this strict football incident to cause me damage and continue to spread unfounded charges.”
Regarding Caracas’ internet abuse, the statement from Espanyol goes on: “We are worried that, instead of focusing on the act itself, part of the media attention has been deviated in other issues that are not related to the seriousness of action . ”
Sky Sports News has contacted league F for comment.
Barcelona, who won the match 2-0, are five clear points at the top of the evil F while Espanyol is the 13th in the 16 team league.
Leon, 29, is a leading player for Barcelona who has won five league titles and the three champions leagues with the club.
Caracas, 27, is an international in Colombia who was part of their candidacy in the 2023 World Cup quarter -finals.
