Erling Haaland is facing allegations of assaulting a Manchester City mascot in an incident that reportedly occurred in October 2024 after a match against Southampton. According to a report by The Sun, a female employee, who was dressed in the club’s mascot costume at the time, claims that Haaland struck her on the back of the head twice, causing vomiting, neck pain, and headaches.

The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed for safety reasons, said the alleged incident happened as Haaland posed for a photo. She initially thought she was hit by a ball, but a colleague allegedly informed her that it was the Norwegian striker.

Medical attention and symptoms

After reporting the incident to club officials, the first team doctor advised her to go to the hospital. Medical tests confirmed her symptoms but showed no structural injuries, according to the report.

The woman also claimed that when she told stadium security, they laughed it off and sarcastically replied: “At least you can say Haaland hit you.”

She added: “I'm sure Erling would have apologized if he'd been asked. But they just wanted it to go away.” Her contract with the club, which began in June 2024, was reportedly not renewed in December.

Manchester City issues official denial

Manchester City has strongly denied the allegations. In a statement provided to The Sun, the club said:

“The club conducted a full investigation and found no evidence, including video footage, to support the claim or indicate any injury.”

City added that security camera footage from the Etihad Stadium was reviewed and described the interaction as a “gentle tap” by Haaland.

Furthermore, Greater Manchester Police were notified of the incident, but the case did not proceed due to a lack of evidence.

A controversial and unclear situation

While the matter has not escalated to formal legal proceedings, the story has drawn attention due to Haaland’s high profile. No public comment has been made by the striker himself.

As it stands, the incident remains a he-said-she-said scenario, with the club standing firmly behind its player and the alleged victim maintaining her version of events. Whether further details emerge remains to be seen, but for now, the case has officially been closed by authorities.