After being accused of inappropriately touching Daniela Caracas of Espanyol during Sunday’s Liga F match between the two teams, Barcelona defender Mapi Leon issued a statement. The video seems to show Leon touching Caracas about the crotch area after the two clashed in the early going of the competition, just before a set piece.
Following the incident, Espanyol blasted the 29-year-old for her behaviour and said their player had been the target of hate speech on social media. “While jostling with Daniela Caracas during the match, FC Barcelona player María Pilar Leon made a hand gesture that violated our player’s intimacy,” the Spanish team claimed. Caracas was unable to respond at the time because of the severity of the circumstance, but she eventually realised the gravity of the gesture after processing what had transpired. However, she decided against reacting furiously to prevent a disciplinary action that would have negatively impacted the squad.
Now, Leon has defended herself, saying she did nothing wrong and denouncing the persecution of her opponent. After video of the event went viral on social media, the 29-year-old released a statement.
Leon Releases Statement Following ‘Inappropriate Touching’
Esta señora, Mapi Leon, que indignadísima renunció a jugar con la selección española por el inaceptable el pico de Rubiales, es la misma que ahora le toca los genitales a una compañera de profesión del Español, en público, durante un partido: "¿Tienes picha?".
Pues como ella… pic.twitter.com/NyGgB2gyax
— María Jamardo (@MariaJamardoC) February 10, 2025
Espanyol’s initial complaints against the Spanish international were characterised by their “complete discontent with, and condemnation of, the events that took place,” with the touching being described as “unacceptable and [something] that should not be overlooked.”
The Catalan group also questioned the media’s handling of the situation, saying that “part of the media attention has been diverted to other issues unrelated to the seriousness of the action, instead of focussing on the incident itself.”
Leon has refuted any charges in a statement that has since been posted on Barcelona’s website, claiming that she grabbed Caracas’ leg after being “deliberately touched.”
“My colleague Daniela Caracas is a professional, and I never intended to violate her privacy. She purposefully touches me, as seen in the pictures, and I respond to the altercation by touching her leg and asking, “What’s up with you?”
“There is absolutely no aim and no contact with her intimate areas. I maintain that it was merely a game element and does not merit the significance that has been ascribed to it.
“I would never come up with the thought of touching a coworker’s privates since it is against my morals and I would never do it.
“I condemn the harassment that Daniela appears to have been suffering on social networks, which has nothing to do with me, and I offer her my most sincere support.”
“As evidence of the week we are in, there has been a lot of commotion and debate surrounding my name, all with the sole intent of harming my reputation and values by disseminating false information and events for other ends. I am quite angry and disappointed, and I therefore reserve the right to file a lawsuit against anyone attempting to use this purely football-related incident to harm me and keep making baseless claims.”
❗️Mapi León' statement in English regarding what happened yesterday against RCD Espanyol. pic.twitter.com/a4vpsm0zeK
— Barça Femení (@BarcaFem) February 10, 2025
The incident occurred during the trial of Luis Rubiales, the former head of the Spanish football federation, who was charged with forcing a kiss on Jenni Hermoso after the Spanish team won the 2023 World Cup. After she and a few of her players had a falling out with then manager Jorge Vilda in 2022, Leon withdrew from national team duty and was not included in that squad.
Regarding her choice to leave the squad, Leon stated, according to The Times: “[I have] a way of life and values.” If things haven’t changed, I can’t go back. Changes must be made. Not that there haven’t been any changes, but I don’t see any.
