Barcelona player Mapi Leon denies inappropriately touching rival ...

Barcelona football player Mapi Leon has denied touching the private parts of an opponent during a Liga F game.

The Spanish defender collided with RCD Espanyol's Daniela Caracas during a derby match on Sunday.

Footage from the match shows the pair bumped into each other, Leon then stopped and briefly touched Caracas's shorts with her right hand.

Leon, 29, reportedly also said something to her opponent before they continued pushing one another to get into a better position.

Espanyol said after the match that Leon's actions "violated the privacy" of its defender and expressed their "total discontent and condemnation" of the incident.

Denying the allegation, Leon said on Monday: "At no time did I violate or have the intention of violating the privacy of my professional colleague."

In a statement shared by Barcelona FC, she added: "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?'.

"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."

'Target' on social media

What happened on the pitch overshadowed Barcelona's 2-0 win over Espanyol, which makes them five points clear at the top of Liga F.

Espanyol added that the incident has led to Caracas, 27, being the "target" of insults on social media.

It said: "We are concerned that, instead of focusing on the act itself, part of the media attention has been diverted to other issues unrelated to the seriousness of the action."

Also addressing the alleged backlash, Leon said she condemns any harassment and that Caracas has her "most sincere support".

"There has been noise and controversy surrounding my name, aimed solely at damaging my image and principles by spreading manipulated news and events for other purposes, evidencing the week that we are in," she added.

"I am deeply upset and disappointed, and hence reserve the right to take legal action against whomsoever might be seeking to exploit this strictly footballing incident to cause me damage and continue spreading unfounded accusations."

Leon is a key player for Barcelona who has won five league titles and three Champions Leagues with the club.

Caracas is a Colombia international who was part of their run to the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Liga F has not responded to comment when approached by Sky Sports News.