Soccer Player Hugo Mallo to Face Trial Over Mascot Groping Allegations

Mallo denies accusations, claiming television footage proves his innocence; case was initially dismissed but later overturned on appeal.

Hugo Mallo, a former player for Celta Vigo and current player for Brazilian club Internacional, is set to go on trial for allegedly inappropriately touching a mascot before a game in 2019.
The mascot, a woman dressed in a parakeet costume representing La Liga side Espanyol, claims Mallo touched her breasts as players lined up to salute each other before kickoff.
Mallo denies any wrongdoing, stating that television footage of the incident shows he did nothing wrong.
The case against Mallo was initially dismissed, but the decision was later overturned on appeal.
If found guilty, both prosecutors and the defendant seek the payment of a fine.