The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) handed Barcelona star Mapi León a two-game suspension last week, finding the defender guilty of “unsporting conduct” during a Liga F match against Espanyol.
While lining up for a set piece in the 15th minute of the February Catalan derby, León appeared to say something to Espanyol center-back Daniela Caracas before seemingly touching her inappropriately.
The incident garnered condemnation from Caracas’s club, who said that León “violated the privacy of Caracas” and that the action was “unacceptable and should not go unnoticed.” Espanyol’s support of Caracas included the club offering their legal services to the Colombian international.
In response, the RFEF banned León for two matches, though the defender continues to deny the allegations, saying she simply touched Caracas’s leg.
“I am very upset and disappointed,” León stated immediately after the February 9th incident. “That is why I reserve the right to take legal action against anyone who intends to take advantage of this situation to damage me and continue defaming me on unfounded evidence.”
In León’s defense, Barcelona both appealed the RFEF’s ruling and unsuccessfully asked Spain’s Sports Administrative Court to suspend her ban until the club’s appeal.
Without an appeal hearing or a pause on the ban, León sat out her club’s 6-0 win over Atlético Madrid on Sunday. She is due to serve the second game of her suspension during Barcelona’s Wednesday matchup with Sevilla — clearing her for next weekend’s UWCL semifinal.
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