Espanyol released a statement condemning the action, expressing their "total discontent" and emphasizing its seriousness. The club also highlighted that Caracas, a Colombian international, has since faced a wave of online abuse. They criticized the shift in media focus from the act itself to unrelated issues, calling for attention to the incident rather than social media reactions.
On Monday, León responded with a statement denying any wrongdoing. She explained that the contact was part of a normal game action, clarifying that Caracas had also touched her during the clash. León insisted there was no intentional contact with Caracas' private parts and argued that the situation had been unnecessarily exaggerated.
"At no time did I, nor was it my intention, infringe upon the intimacy of my fellow professional Daniela Caracas," León stated. "The images show it was a playing action in which she deliberately touches me, and I touch her leg in reaction to the clash. There is no contact with her private parts, and certainly no intention."
León also condemned the online harassment Caracas has endured, distancing herself from the negative attention and offering her support to the Espanyol player.
Espanyol's statement elaborated on Caracas' reaction, explaining that she initially did not respond during the game but later recognized the seriousness of the gesture. The club suggested she chose not to react on the field to avoid disciplinary consequences that could have hurt her team.
BBC Sport has reached out to Liga F for comment on the matter.
Barcelona won the match 2-0, maintaining a five-point lead at the top of Liga F, while Espanyol remains in 13th place in the 16-team league.
León, 29, is a key figure for Barcelona, having won five Liga F titles and three Champions League trophies. Caracas, 27, played a crucial role for Colombia in their 2023 Women's World Cup campaign, helping the team reach the quarter-finals.
