Espanyol has accused Barcelona defender Mapi Leon of violating the privacy of their player Daniela Caracas during a recent Liga F match. The incident occurred amidst a 2-0 victory for Barcelona, which saw the team extend their lead at the top of the league by five points. The match took place as Espanyol continues to struggle, currently positioned 13th in the 16-team league.
The controversy erupted during the 15th minute of the game when Leon and Caracas collided during a set-piece. A video clip capturing the incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread debate and conversation. In response, Espanyol expressed "total discontent and condemnation" of the incident and asserted that the action was unacceptable.
"This is an action that we consider unacceptable and that should not go unnoticed." – Espanyol
The aftermath of the incident saw Caracas, a 27-year-old Colombian international who made it to the 2023 World Cup quarter-finals, become the target of hundreds of social media insults. Espanyol noted that while Caracas did not initially react to the incident, she became aware of its severity upon reflection but chose to maintain her composure to avoid disciplinary repercussions.
"Although Caracas was unable to react at the time… later, when she came to terms with what had happened, she became aware of the seriousness of the gesture, but chose not to react angrily to avoid a disciplinary sanction and harm to the team." – Espanyol
In defense, Mapi Leon, a seasoned 29-year-old Barcelona player with five league titles and three Champions League victories, denied the accusations. She emphasized that there was no intention on her part to infringe upon Caracas' privacy.
"At no time did I, nor was it my intention, infringe upon the intimacy of my fellow professional Daniela Caracas." – Mapi Leon
Barcelona issued a statement supporting Leon and reiterating their stance against the accusations while also condemning the online abuse directed at Caracas. Both clubs have united in their condemnation of the harassment faced by Caracas, emphasizing the need for respectful conduct both on and off the field.
Leave a Reply