Mapi León incident shows women's football needs to protect its players
On Monday footage began to circulate on social media that appeared to show the Barcelona defender Mapi León inappropriately touching the crotch of the Espanyol defender Daniela Caracas during Sunday's Liga F match. León then appears to say something to her opponent. It then spiralled out of control.
León was condemned for her perceived actions by some and a torrent of horrific online abuse was aimed at Caracas followed by others. Espanyol released a statement shortly after the footage began to circulate and gain traction expressing their 'complete discontent and condemnation' of what they described as an 'unacceptable' incident. The club said the incident should 'not be overlooked' and that they would make their legal services available to the Colombia international should she wish to take legal action.
León responded by denying any wrongdoing. 'As the images show, it was part of a playing action in which she deliberately touches me and I touch her leg saying in reaction to the clash: 'what's up with you',' she said. 'There is NO contact with her private parts, and certainly no intention. I insist, it was just part of the game that does not warrant the importance that has been attached to it.
'The idea of touching the private parts of a colleague would never enter my head, it goes against my principles and I would never do such a thing.' She added: 'I condemn the harassment that Daniela appears to have been suffering on social networks, which has nothing to do with me, and I offer her my most sincere support.'
Espanyol's head of women's football, Dolors Ribalta, subsequently said in an interview on the radio show El Partidazo de Cope that León had not been in contact with the club or Caracas, who is in shock, adding that León's 'statement has come out too late' and that 'it is a very clear image'.
The club have left the decision on what, if any further action will be taken in the hands of Caracas. Regardless of what happens next, the online abuse faced by Caracas has been a damning indictment of a rapidly changing women's football landscape.
Online abuse is becoming an increasingly familiar problem. The digital harassment of the player came days after Khadija Shaw faced racist and misogynistic abuse following Manchester City's 4-3 loss to Arsenal. Barbra Banda faced unfounded speculation over her gender and a torrent of misogynistic and transphobic abuse after she won the BBC women's football of the year award for 2024. Lauren James has spoken about the impact of the racist abuse she has received online several times. Is it a coincidence that all these players are black? Unlikely, and that is an issue that needs further discussion, alongside the question of how we protect Caracas and players suffering similarly.
Women's football has a duty of care to protect players from hate-fuelled abuse and clubs and governing bodies at all levels must urgently explore how they do that, while acting on combating the root causes of views that spawn it. Lip service is not enough.
The reality is that as women's football grows and becomes more mainstream, increasingly the multifaceted elements of society will become part of its ecosystem. Football doesn't exist in a bubble, it exists within the context of the world we live in, encompassing all its ills as well as positive elements.
For a long time, women's football has been able to exist in somewhat of a bubble audience-wise. Why? Simply, because it took a certain level of political liberalism or progressiveness to buck the trend and back women playing football. In that climate, those responsible for the game could get away with a lack of a plan for tackling online abuse and its causes and be solely reactive to isolated incidents that occurred.
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However, the climate has changed and it's time to get on the front foot and be proactive. Enough is enough.
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