Spanish Footballer Convicted of Sexual Assault for Inappropriately Touching a Mascot

FILE - Perica, the mascot of Espanyol F.C., performs before the match against Atlético de Madrid in Barcelona on Sept. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort, file)
FILE - Perica, the mascot of Espanyol F.C., performs before the match against Atlético de Madrid in Barcelona on Sept. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort, file)
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Spanish Footballer Convicted of Sexual Assault for Inappropriately Touching a Mascot

FILE - Perica, the mascot of Espanyol F.C., performs before the match against Atlético de Madrid in Barcelona on Sept. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort, file)
FILE - Perica, the mascot of Espanyol F.C., performs before the match against Atlético de Madrid in Barcelona on Sept. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort, file)

Spanish soccer player Hugo Mallo has been convicted of sexual assault for inappropriately touching a mascot before a La Liga game in 2019, court officials said on Thursday.
The former Celta Vigo player was found to have inappropriately touched the breasts of the woman who was wearing Espanyol’s parakeet costume while players lined up to salute each other before kickoff, The Associated Press reported.
A judge fined Mallo 6,000 euros ($6,600) and ordered him to pay 1,000 euros ($1,100) in damages to the victim.
The 33-year-old Mallo reiterated his innocence and said he planned to appeal the sentencing. Mallo posted a video of the incident on Instagram.
“I continue to categorically deny the facts attributed to me in the ruling,” he said. “I acknowledged that while turning around after the greetings that my hand could have touched the waist of the parakeet, but I absolutely denied that it touched the parakeet’s breasts.”
The case was initially dismissed but that decision was overturned on appeal. At the time, Mallo posted a statement on Instagram calling for “respect” and pointing out that neither Celta nor Espanyol found evidence of wrongdoing.
Mallo will also have to pay for the legal costs of the proceedings.



AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Dates and Venues Announced

AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Dates and Venues Announced
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AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Dates and Venues Announced

AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Dates and Venues Announced

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and AFC Asian Cup 2027 local organizing committee announced in a press release on Tuesday that the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 is set to take place from January 7 to February 5, 2027.
The 19th edition of Asia's premier football tournament will kick off on Thursday, January 7, 2027, culminating with the final match on Friday, February 5, 2027, promising an exciting experience for football fans across the continent.
The release said the tournament will feature eight stadiums across three host cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar. Each city will be anchored by a main stadium.
In Riyadh, the spotlight will be on King Fahd Sports City Stadium, currently undergoing extensive upgrades to meet the highest standards.
Jeddah will host matches at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, also known as “The Shining Jewel,” which recently hosted the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup Final, SPA reported.
In Al Khobar, the newly constructed Stadium will be the centerpiece of the Eastern Region.
In addition to these main venues, Riyadh will also feature King Saud University Stadium, Al Shabab Stadium, and Kingdom Arena, along with the revamped Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud University Stadium, which will see its seating capacity expanded to 21,000 and all facilities upgraded to meet AFC standards.
Jeddah will also host matches at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium, which previously hosted several matches during the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.
Saudi Arabian Football Federation President Yasser Al Misehal described the announcement of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 timeline as a key milestone in the Kingdom’s journey toward hosting the tournament.
“The local organizing committee is committed to delivering an exceptional edition of the Asian Cup that meets the high expectations of football fans across the continent,” Al Misehal said.
He added: “The success of this endeavor is a result of the unwavering support from our leadership and the guidance of Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, which has positioned the Saudi Arabian Football Federation among the leading football associations in the region.”
Al Misehal expressed gratitude to AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and the entire AFC team for their ongoing support.
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 builds on the Kingdom’s recent success in organizing major international sports events, a key part of Saudi Vision 2030. The Kingdom has recently hosted high-profile football tournaments, including the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, as well as the Spanish and Italian Super Cups. It is also set to host the final stages of this season’s AFC Champions League Elite, alongside major events in other sports, such as Formula 1 and the Dakar Rally.
According to the release, 18 nations have qualified for the tournament: Saudi Arabia (host nation), Australia, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Iran, Qatar, UAE, Japan, Korea Republic, Oman, Palestine, Jordan, Bahrain, China PR, Indonesia, DPR Korea, Kuwait, and the Kyrgyz Republic.
Six remaining spots will be determined through the final round of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.