Espanyol has accused Mapi Leon, the Barcelona and Spain defender, of breaching the privacy of their player Daniela Caracas during a Liga F match. In the 15th minute of the derby game between the two Barcelona clubs on Sunday, a collision occurred between Leon and Caracas as the Espanyol player was defending a set-piece. Following the collision, Leon seemingly touched Caracas in the groin area, which prompted Espanyol to voice their “total discontent and condemnation” of the act. The incident has gained viral attention on social media, and Espanyol noted that Caracas has faced “hundreds of insults” online since then. In a statement on their website, Espanyol remarked: “This is an action we deem unacceptable and deserving of attention. Although Caracas initially did not react, she later recognized the seriousness of the gesture but opted not to respond with anger to avoid potential disciplinary action that could negatively impact the team.” Statement from Barcelona and Leon. Barcelona and Leon have issued a statement from Leon, who refutes the claims made against him. The statement said: “I neither did nor intended to violate the privacy of my fellow professional, Daniela Caracas. The images illustrate that it was part of a play where she intentionally touched me, and I responded by touching her leg and asking, ‘What’s going on with you?'” There is no interaction with her private areas, and definitely no intention to do so. I maintain that it was simply part of the game and does not deserve the significance that has been given to it. “The thought of touching a colleague’s private areas would never cross my mind; it contradicts my values, and I would never act in such a way. “I denounce the harassment that Daniela seems to be experiencing on social media, which is unrelated to me, and I extend my heartfelt support to her. “There has been a lot of noise and controversy regarding my name, intended solely to tarnish my image and principles through the dissemination of distorted news and events for ulterior motives, as evident this week. “I am extremely upset and disappointed, and I therefore reserve the right to pursue legal action against anyone who may be attempting to exploit this purely football-related incident to harm me and propagate baseless allegations.” Espanyol’s statement on the online abuse directed at Caracas expresses concern that media coverage has shifted focus away from the incident itself to other unrelated matters, which undermines the gravity of the situation. Sky Sports News has reached out to Liga F for a response. Barcelona, victorious in the match with a score of 2-0, holds a five-point lead at the top of Liga F, while Espanyol is ranked 13th out of 16 teams. Leon, 29, is a pivotal player for Barcelona, having secured five league titles and three Champions League trophies with the team. Caracas, 27, represents Colombia internationally and was involved in their journey to the quarter-finals in the 2023 World Cup.
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