Former Premier League striker appears in court as further details emerge of ‘sexual assault’ allegations
MORE details have emerged of the accusations against former Wolves striker Rafa Mir over an alleged sexual assault.
The 27-year-old footballer was arrested on Sunday by Spanish police and spent a second night in a police cell before appearing in court today.
He was held after two women aged 21 and 25 claimed they had been sexually assaulted by Mir and a friend.
The player is currently on loan to LaLiga side Valencia from rivals Sevilla.
Police are understood to have arrested the second suspect yesterday.
It had already been reported that the arrests took place following an alleged incident during a party at Mir’s home in Betera just outside Valencia.
Local newspaper Las Provincias said the two women agreed to go to the player’s home after meeting up with the accused pair in a nightclub.
It has been reported that police found them arguing at the door “semi-naked and very agitated” after being called to the area by neighbours and security guards who had heard shouting.
The newspaper said one of the women had accused the footballer‘s friend of hitting her.
The father of one of the women is said to have arrived while police were still on the scene after receiving a call from his daughter.
He drove her and her friend away before they filed a formal complaint later in the day at a Civil Guard station in Patraix – where Mir has spent the last two nights.
The older of the two women reportedly told cops she agreed to some initial cuddling and kissing with the ex-Premier League star before he ignored her requests to stop and forced himself on her.
The alleged sex assault is said to have happened by the villa pool.
Las Provincias said the footballer is insisting the woman consented to sex and he has been “collaborative” with officers at all times, letting them into his home on Monday morning.
He is due to be quizzed again today this time by an investigating judge, when he appears in court.
The hearing will take place behind-closed-doors as is normal in Spain where only trials are held in public.
Well-placed legal sources said last night they expected him to be released on conditional bail pending an ongoing investigation even if the alleged victims ratified their police statements before a judge.
It is not yet clear whether the Mir will continue to play for Valencia while any criminal probe is ongoing.
News of his arrest emerged around lunchtime yesterday after he failed to show for training.
A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Valencia subsequently confirmed: “We can confirm a LaLiga footballer has been arrested over an alleged sexual assault.”
Mir won the 2019 European Championship with the Spain national Under-21 football team and a silver medal with the Olympic team at the 2020 event.
He joined Wolves on a four-and-a-half year contract in January 2018 and took the No9 shirt.
He had loan spells at Las Palmas and Nottingham Forest while with Wolves before leaving the club for good in August 2021 when he signed a six-year contract with Sevilla.
He returned to boyhood club Valencia on loan in July.
Valencia said in a statement yesterday: “In relation to the press reports regarding the arrest of Valencia CF player Rafa Mir, the club is aware of the arrest and, in the absence of any more details about it, can only state for the time being that it will cooperate fully with whatever the courts may require.”
Club sources have been quoted as saying they are going to see how the ongoing investigation against Mir develops before taking a decision about his future.
He has not yet been charged with any crime. Formal charges are normally laid in Spain shortly before trial following a lengthy judicial probe by an investigating judge.