The MapiLeón incident shows that women’s soccer needs to protect players | Football

on Monday’s footage circulated on social media that appears to be inappropriately touched by Barcelona defender MapiLeón, who inappropriately touched the thighs of Espanyol defender Daniela Caracas during Sunday’s La Liga F match. I’ve started. It appears that Leon has since said something to her. After that, it went out of control.

Leon was accused of her perceived behaviour by some, and the torrent of horrifying online abuse was aimed at Karaka, where others followed. Espanyol released a statement shortly after the footage began to circulate, gaining traction that expressed “complete dissatisfaction and condemnation” what he described as an “unacceptable” incident. The club said the incident should “not be overlooked” and that it will make legal services available to Columbia International if it wishes to take legal action.

Leon responded by denial of fraud. “As the image shows, it’s part of the performance action she intentionally touches me, and I touch her feet in response to the collision: “What are you?” she said I said that. “There was no contact with her private parts, and certainly no intention. I argue that it’s just part of a game that doesn’t guarantee the importance attached to it.

“The idea of ​​touching the private parts of a colleague never enters my mind. It goes against my principles, I will never do anything like that,” she adds I did. “I condemn Daniela’s harassment of appearing to be suffering on social networks, which has nothing to do with me.

Doraz Ribarta, head of women’s football at Espanyol, later said in an interview with radio show El Partidazo de Corp that Leon had not had any contact with the club or Caracas, who were shocked. “And “That’s a very clear image.”

The club has resigned from making decisions about what if further action is taken in the hands of Caracas. Regardless of what happens next, the online abuse that Caracas faces has been a terrible indictment of the rapidly changing women’s soccer landscape.

Online abuse is becoming an increasingly familiar problem. Digital harassment of the players comes just days after Kadijashaw faced racist and misogynistic abuse after Manchester City lost 4-3 to Arsenal. After winning the 2024 BBC Women’s Football Award, Barbra Banda faced unfounded speculation about the torrent of gender and misogynistic and transphobic abuse. Lauren James spoke about the effects of the racist abuse she had suffered several times. Is it a coincidence that all these players are black? It’s unlikely, and it’s a question that needs further discussion, along with the question of how to protect Caracas and players as well.

Women’s football is obligated to protect players from hateful abuse and clubs, and governing bodies at all levels do not urgently explore to act on the basis of the fight against the root causes of the views that generate them. It won’t be. Lip service is not enough.

The reality is that as women’s soccer grows and becomes more mainstream, the multifaceted elements of society become increasingly part of its ecosystem. Soccer does not exist in the bubble. It exists within the context of the world we live in, covering all diseases and positive elements.

For a long time, women’s football could exist in a slightly bubble audience. why? Simply because it required a level of political liberalism or inventive step to defy women playing football against trends. In that climate, the game manager can escape with no plans to tackle the cause and only respond to isolated incidents that occur.

However, the climate is changing and it’s time to get on your front legs and become more aggressive. Enough is enough.

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