Competition sanctions Mollejo with one match for celebrating a goal 'a la Rubiales' by touching his genitals

The Competition Committee has suspended Real Zaragoza player Víctor Mollejo with a one-match suspension for celebrating a goal by touching his genitals, 'a la Rubiales', after scoring a goal in the match against Cartagena on September 10.

In its resolution, released this Wednesday, Competition agrees to “sanction Víctor Mollejo Carpintero, Real Zaragoza SAD player, for a violation of article 126 of the RFEF Disciplinary Code, with a penalty of suspension for one match, with an additional fine in the amount of 200 euros to the club and 600 to the offender, for the reported events that occurred during the match corresponding to matchday 5 of the Second Division National League Championship.”

Competition is protected by article 126 of the regulations of the Disciplinary Committee of the RFEF, which explains the sanctions for offensive gestures and ensures that “it is therefore appropriate to dismiss the allegations (from Real Zaragoza) contained in the letter of October 2, focused on “argue that celebrating the goal would not be offensive, since it is clear that it is a manifestly unacceptable and ribald gesture, which offends the most basic common sense of the community.”

It establishes that the sanction must be between one and three matches, but that, given the circumstances that arise, “it considers it pertinent to impose the sanction proposed by the Instructor, that is, suspension for one match.”

complaint letter

On September 12, two days after the match, LaLiga sent a written complaint to the Competition Committee and the Anti-Violence Commission regarding the gesture made by Mollejo.

LaLiga then pointed out that the match incident report reflected that “in the 90+1 minute of the match, the visiting Real Zaragoza player, number 20, Víctor Mollejo Carpintero, after scoring his team's third goal, and during the celebration of the himself, he grabs his genitals with both hands, and later repeats it again with one of them, a fact that was clearly seen by the spectators who attended the match, as well as by the viewers through the television broadcast of the match.”

He added that “this incident immediately had a great media impact through the media, which is reflected in the report attached to this complaint.”

In addition, it highlighted “that after the game and in the stadium itself, the player showed his regret by publicly stating that he had made a mistake.”. This appears in the aforementioned report that is attached.”

Mollejo wrote on social networks: “Apologize to all those people who have felt offended by that celebration. It is a gesture that, evidently, does not correspond to the education that I have. Now when I'm cold I regret it a lot and I wish I had changed it.”.

He added that “it was nothing significant nor was it directed at anyone.”. It's not an excuse, but it was nothing significant. “Apologize to everyone who was offended and say I'm sorry.”