Former Celta Vigo captain Hugo Mallo has been found guilty of one count of sexually abusing a team mascot before a match in 2019, a Barcelona court has ruled.
Prosecutors and the defendant had requested a fine if the Spanish player was found guilty.
Mallo, 33, will have to pay 6,000 euros ($6,609) in compensation, or 10 euros a day for the next 20 months, to the victim and another 1,000 euros for moral damages. Mallo will also have to pay all the legal costs of the trial.
The incident occurred before a LaLiga match against Espanyol at the RCDE stadium on 24 April 2019, where Mallo touched the breasts of the woman wearing the Espanyol parakeet costume as the players lined up to greet each other before kick-off.
Mallo now plays for Greek club Aris Salonika. In a statement released on Thursday, he continued to deny any wrongdoing and added that he would appeal the verdict.
