Barcelona defender Mapi León has failed in her final attempt to overturn sanctions stemming from a controversial incident with Espanyol’s Daniela Caracas during last season’s Barcelona derby.
The Administrative Tribunal for Sport (TAD) dismissed León’s appeal, ruling that her conduct—captured on camera during a set piece—was not accidental but a “clearly intentional gesture” that violated the opponent’s intimacy and breached sporting codes of conduct.
León, who has consistently denied wrongdoing, previously served a two-game suspension handed down by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Both she and Barcelona argued that the video evidence was misleading, pointing to deceptive angles. However, appeals to the RFEF and its Appeals Committee were unsuccessful before the case reached TAD, which has now delivered a final, uncompromising verdict.
TAD’s resolution stated:
“The sanctioned action cannot be considered mere accidental contact. The player touched her opponent in a deliberate way, in an area of the body that does not meet the standards of civility, correctness, or good manners in sport.”
Barcelona, who publicly backed León throughout the process, have yet to issue a fresh response following this latest ruling and have taken no internal disciplinary action against the 30-year-old defender.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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