Barcelona central defender has been banned for two Liga F games for an on-field altercation with Espanyol’s Daniela Caracas in a league game in February.
The clash, which was witnessed on social media, drew scathing criticism from Espanyol.
According to the BBC, Spain international León was charged with “infringing the privacy” of Colombian defender Caracas after she allegedly made contact with her groin area while attempting to clear a corner kick.
Liga F confirmed the suspension to BBC Sport, further adding the ban was imposed “following the incident with Daniela Caracas.”
León missed the first match of her suspension in Barcelona’s recent game against Atlético Madrid and will also miss the next high-pressure match against Real Madrid.
León denied wrongdoing, saying there was no inappropriateness.
“At no moment did I, nor was it my intention, violate the intimacy of my colleague Daniela Caracas,” she said.
Her appeal aside, Barcelona’s appeal of the suspension was rejected.
The suspension occurs at a critical juncture of the season, with Barcelona having a four-point advantage over Real Madrid at the Liga F summit with five games to go.
Losing a key player, such as could impact their title defense, especially before the derby against their nearest challengers.
Espanyol, on their part, stood firm in their stance of opposing all women’s football misbehavior and called for more accountability.
The issue has caused a controversy about players’ conduct and disciplinary measures in the sport.
As the league enters its decisive phase, Barcelona will have to cope without León, whose potential absence could be critical in the title race.
The scandal also highlights existing debates over respect and professionalism in women’s football, and the governing bodies are under pressure to react to such incidents with an iron fist.
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