Because of sexual aggression
©IMAGO
Rafa Mir was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison and ordered to pay compensation of 64,000 euros for allegations of sexual aggression against a young woman. The 28-year-old Sevilla FC striker had to spend two nights behind bars in September 2024 after a 23-year-old reported him. At that time he was released on conditional terms.
Mir protests his innocence. He and his lawyer emphasized that the sexual acts were consensual. You want to appeal against the judgment, which is not yet legally binding. “I continue to trust the justice system,” Mir said. Footballer Pablo Jara, accused in the same criminal case, was also sentenced to two and a half years in prison for sexual aggression against a second woman.
The 23-year-old stated in the complaint and repeated during the trial that she was raped by the striker on September 1, 2024 in Villa Mirs in Valencia. Court records show that the young woman said she defended herself against Mir in tears. Jara was accused of harassing a friend of the 23-year-old and eventually throwing her out of the villa half-naked.
Mir is under contract with Sevilla FC until 2027, but was loaned out to FC Elche last season, for whom he scored eight goals in 27 LaLiga appearances. The attacker took part in the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo with the Spanish selection. Spain made it to the final, but had to settle for the silver medal after losing 2-1 after extra time against Brazil. Back then, Mir scored three goals in six games.
Sevilla issues statement on Mir verdict
“Sevilla FC takes note of the judgment of the Fourth Chamber of the Valencia Regional Court, in which its player Rafa Mir, who is on loan at Elche until June 30, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison. The club expresses its utmost respect for the judicial process and condemns in the strongest terms any form of violence, abuse or sexual assault. Such behavior has no place in our society and in the values that sport stands for,” its club said in a statement.