Global outrage over women’s footballer’s ‘sick’ act

A threat of legal action has emerged with the football world left horrified by a disgusting act and alleged slur. WARNING: Distressing content.

WARNING: This story contains content that some may find distressing.

A Spanish woman footballer has caused global outrage after touching a rival’s private parts and appearing while appearing to make a disgusting comment.

TV cameras clearly picked up the moment Barcelona defender Mapi Leon deliberately touched Espanyol footballer Daniela Caracas’ genitals as the alleged sex assault victim prepared to defend a corner during a fiercely-contested derby match on Monday (AEDT).

Spanish media and social media amateur lip readers reported the slur 29-year-old appeared to ask her opponent: “Tienes picha?”

The offensive expression would translate into English as ‘Have you got a d**k?’

Leon, capped more than 50 times by her national team, made the comment during a brief push-and-shove altercation before and after the extraordinary crotch grab, The Sun reports.

You can watch the troubling incident in the video player above.

Barcelona's Mapi Leon's inappropriate act. Photo: X and Liga F.

Barcelona’s city rivals Espanyol have released an official statement criticising Leon’s actions and vowing to support Daniela if she decided to press charges.

The Catalan club said in a statement: “We would like to express our total discontent and condemnation of the events that took place yesterday during the derby match between RCD Espanyol and Barcelona FC at the Dani Jarque stadium.

“It is an action that we consider unacceptable and that should not go unnoticed.

“During the match, the FC Barcelona player María Pilar Leon, in the middle of a struggle with our player, Daniela Caracas, made a gesture that violated the player’s intimacy.

“At the time Daniela was unable to react because of the impact caused by the situation.

“Later on when she assimilated what happened she became aware of the seriousness of the gesture, but chose not to react angrily to avoid a disciplinary sanction and harm the team.

“In addition to what happened on the pitch, there has been a regrettable reaction on social media, where our player has been the target of insults from hundreds of profiles.

“We are concerned that, instead of focusing on the act itself, part of the media attention has been diverted to other issues unrelated to its seriousness.

“RCD Espanyol defends our player and condemns any act that threatens the integrity of the players on the pitch.

Daniela Caracas marks Mapi Leon.

“We firmly believe in respect and sportsmanship as fundamental values in football and we hope that this type of situation will be treated with the seriousness it deserves.

“Furthermore, we have made the club’s legal services available to our player should she wish to take legal action.

“Likewise, as RCD Espanyol has done on previous occasions, we wish to express our rejection of any form of violence, whether physical or verbal in the world of football.

“Sport should be a place of respect and coexistence, and we condemn any attitude that encourages hatred or aggression on and off the pitch.”

Barcelona and the player at the centre of the controversy have not yet offered any official reaction.

Mapi Leon. Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP.

Espanyol lost 2-0 to the league leaders, with a 73rd-minute goal from Graham Hansen and another three minutes later by Salma Paralluelo.

Mapi Leon was one of the footballers who said she didn’t want to play for her country again unless there were structural changes in the Spanish FA following the scandal unleashed by the kiss Luis Rubiales gave Jenni Hermoso after the 2023 women’s World Cup and his initial refusal to resign.

The former Spanish FA president is currently on trial for sexual assault and coercion over the kiss Jenni says was unwanted.

Critics were accusing Mapi Leon of double standards today.

One said: “This is really serious. I hope it finishes in a court of law.”

Another said: “I hope they take measures like they did with Rubiales.

“A sexual assault is where there’s no consent right?”

— This story originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission

Originally published as Global outrage over women’s footballer’s ‘sick’ act