Xisco Riba Faces Sanction Over TikTok Videos and Club Response
In Mallorca, a young fan known for his studies in Audiovisual Communication and Journalism faced a six-month ban from the club after a formal complaint was filed by the Professional Football League. The sanction followed the release of short TikTok videos that included expressions aimed at rival players. The club stated it acted after receiving a formal complaint and noted the decision came because the content insulted players from different teams. The episode ties back to clips recorded since his days in the youth system, including times at Lluís Sitjar. It is a case that highlights how social media activity can trigger consequences within professional sports clubs and leagues, even when intentions are not to offend. [Citation: Mallorca Club Communications Office]
Beschling, as he is sometimes known, uploaded images to the TikTok platform that used phrases directed at rival players, such as a range of expressions that many readers would recognize as provocative. Ribas argues that the sanction is unfair and insists there was no malice behind the posts. He says the videos were created in a lighthearted atmosphere among friends, not to target any individual with intent to humiliate. He notes that the videos were born from playful banter during a period of shared jokes among peers, evolving from a simple joke into a broader social media phenomenon. He recalls that upon posting, the video quickly drew hundreds of thousands of views, reflecting the reach of online humor among young fans. [Citation: Local interview coverage]
Ribas himself explains that the initial idea emerged during conversations in Last Moix, a Spanish setting, where players and fans sometimes exchange humorous labels. He describes the process as spontaneous and fun, with some viewers finding the content amusing. He recounts an instance when a line about a rival player became a topic of everyday talk on the street, prompting laughter rather than offense. Despite the positive reactions from many, the sanction arrived unexpectedly, leaving him surprised and curious about the boundaries of online expression. [Citation: Fan testimony]
On social media, posts continued to circulate with the same lighthearted tone, including hashtags used to reach broader audiences. Ribas emphasizes that the content was not intended to attack anyone and that some comments from supporters reinforced his belief that the videos were harmless. He notes that the concern grew when the case connected to discussions about a specific opponent, Raul de Tomas, and the idea of playful jokes about appearance. Still, he maintains that the humor was never meant to insult or degrade. [Citation: Social media analysis]
Ribas received formal notification about the sanction on March 20. He asserts that the measure is not about racism or xenophobia, and he stresses that if the videos were truly offensive, he would not have uploaded them or shared them under his real name. He faced questions about public accusations that linked him to insulting Vinícius, a claim he denies. The matter became a broader debate about how public perception and online content intersect with sports culture. The sanctions, he says, included a three-year period associated with racist insults toward Vinícius, which he believes is mischaracterized in some discussions. [Citation: Club correspondence]
Before a match, the club Osasuna responded to the allegations by denying them on March 31. Ribas recalls that inquiries about renewing his subscription were addressed with a straightforward answer: there would be no problem awaiting further decisions, and the punishment seemed excessive to him. He mentions the option of pursuing legal action but emphasizes he would rather focus on his ongoing projects. He explains that legal action could be lengthy and, in his view, unnecessary given his current commitments. [Citation: Club statement]
The sanction is scheduled to end on September 20, aligning with the start of the next season, and Ribas expresses a firm intention to renew his membership. In the stands, Lluís Sitjar paid a portion of the cost, highlighting that the family does not want to face penalties again. In his statements, Ribas proposed that if the penalty were lifted, he would delete the footage; however, he also indicated he would not create new content during the suspension in order to move forward. The overarching aim is to turn the page and return to normal club involvement. [Citation: Family statements]
As the season approaches, Ribas remains engaged with football communities online and in person, ready to rejoin matchday activities once the ban concludes. The case continues to spark discussion about the balance between playful fan content and standards expected by clubs and leagues. It also underscores how quickly digital expressions can become part of a larger narrative about responsibility and accountability in sport. [Citation: Post-suspension reflections]