Spanish striker Rafa Mir has been sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for sexual assault

Spanish footballer Rafa Mir has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of assault and battery causing injury, a court in the eastern Valencia region ruled on Monday.

Women’s rights have become a highly sensitive national issue in Spain, especially in the sporting world following scandals including former football chief Luis Rubiales’ unwanted kissing of a national team player, or the rape conviction of ex-Barcelona star Dani Alves, which was later overturned.

Mir was arrested in September 2024 after a woman filed a sexual assault complaint. His lawyer said at the time that the intercourse was consensual and that Mir categorically denied the allegations.

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According to the ruling, Mir and another footballer met two young women at a nightclub in Valencia and later went to Mir’s house to continue the party. Inside the house, Mir sexually assaulted one of the women in the swimming pool and a bathroom, the court said.

The court emphasized the consistent and credible testimony of the victim, supported by witness statements and forensic reports.

The victim was awarded €64,000 ($74,300) in damages. The decision is not final and can be appealed, the court said.

Mir, who currently plays for LaLiga club Elche, on loan from Sevilla, was under contract with six-time national champion Valencia at the time of the incident in 2024.

Sevilla said in a statement that it respected the jury’s decision, adding that there was no place for violence or abuse in society.

“The club, in light of the judgment of Department Four of the Provincial Court of Valencia in which footballer Rafa Mir – currently on loan to Elche CF until June 30 – has been sentenced to eight and a half years, expresses its utmost respect for judicial proceedings and expresses our strong and unequivocal condemnation of any form of violence, abuse or assault,” Sevilla said.

“Such behavior has no place in our society or the values ​​promoted by sport.”

The 28-year-old striker also played for Wolverhampton Wanderers and for the Spanish men’s national team at the Tokyo Olympics.

Elche did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Published on June 15, 2026