Sevilla player Rafa Mir was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for sexual assault
Spanish soccer player Rafa Mir he was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison after a court in Valencia found him guilty of sexual assault and assault causing injury.
The verdict was handed down on Monday by a court in eastern Spain following a case stemming from an incident in September 2024.
Mir, who is currently on loan at Elche from Sevilla, was arrested after a woman accused him of sexual assault.
Court details of conviction
According to the court’s findings, Mir and another footballer met two women in a nightclub in Valencia before inviting them to continue the evening at Mir’s home.
The court ruled that Mir sexually assaulted one of the women in the pool and bathroom of the property.
The judges said the victim’s account remained consistent throughout the proceedings and was supported by witness statements and forensic evidence.
The woman was also awarded compensation of 64,000 euros.
Miro’s lawyer previously claimed the encounter was consensual and said the player denied all allegations. However, the court found enough evidence to convict the 28-year-old attacker.
The decision is not yet final and can still be appealed.
Sevilla reacts to the verdict
After the verdict, Sevilla issued a statement expressing respect for the legal process and condemning all forms of violence and abuse.
“The club, in light of the verdict handed down by Department Four of the Provincial Court of Valencia in which footballer Rafa Mir – currently on loan at Elche CF until June 30 – was sentenced to eight and a half years, expresses its utmost respect for the judicial proceedings and expresses our firm and unequivocal condemnation of any type of violence, abuse or sexual assault,” the club said.
“Such behavior has no place in our society or in the values promoted by sport.”
The case comes amid increased scrutiny of allegations of misconduct involving high-profile figures in Spanish football. In recent years, several major legal and disciplinary cases have attracted national attention.
Mir, who previously played for English club Wolverhampton Wanderers and represented Spain at the Tokyo Olympics, was under contract with Valencia at the time of the incident.
