Barcelona’s women’s defender, Mapi Leon, has been handed a two-match suspension for unsporting behaviour after an incident in February where she allegedly grabbed an Espanyol player’s groin.
The centre-back missed Barca’s emphatic 6-0 victory against Atletico Madrid on Sunday in Liga F and is set to be absent for the leaders’ upcoming match against Sevilla on Wednesday.
According to coach Pere Romeu, Barcelona has appealed the decision to the Spanish sports court (TAD).
“We received a suspension for Mapi, we filed an appeal which was rejected,” he stated during an interview with TV3 on Sunday.
“We have escalated the matter to TAD and, as of now, we have not received a response, meaning the player remains suspended from our squad.”
Espanyol accused Leon of “violating the privacy” of defender Daniela Caracas during their league encounter in February, labelling the incident as “unacceptable”.
Social media footage appeared to show the 29-year-old defender inappropriately engaging with Caracas and allegedly asking her whether she possesses male genitalia, as per transcriptions presented by Spanish media.
Leon has refuted these claims, asserting in a statement issued by Barcelona that “there was no intrusion into any private area, nor was there any intention to do so”.
Barcelona currently holds a four-point advantage in Liga F and is set to face Chelsea in the women’s Champions League semi-finals next Sunday.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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