- Agency Report
Former Wolves striker Rafa Mir has been arrested on suspicion of an alleged sexual assault.
The 27-year-old was held last night and failed to show for training this morning with LaLiga side Valencia, where he is currently on loan from Sevilla.
The Civil Guard confirmed a LaLiga footballer had been arrested, but denied Spanish media reports a second man was also in custody at present.
A spokesman for the force in Valencia said: ‘We can confirm a LaLiga footballer has been arrested over an alleged sexual assault.
‘No one else has been arrested at the moment but that may change later.’
A source close to the inquiry said: ‘Under Spanish law police have 72 hours from the time of arrest to hold him in custody before releasing him or handing him over a judge who has the right to question him further before deciding in principle whether to free him on bail or remand him in custody pending an ongoing investigation.
‘The arrest took place yesterday evening.’
The Civil Guard has not offered any information about what type of sexual assault had allegedly taken place, and whether the women were alleging they had been raped.
Sources close to the ongoing investigation have told Spanish radio station Ser that Mir and another man were arrested over an alleged sex crime against two women aged around 25 at the footballer’s home.
The pair are currently being held at a police station in Valencia.
Valencia Football Club said in a statement: ‘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.’
Spanish media have reported the alleged sex assault happened during a private party at the footballer’s home.
Cadena Ser said local police had initially been called to the house to deal with reports of a possible altercation and put an end to the bash before leaving.
It was not immediately clear today if the sex crime claims were made while officers were at the house or after they left.
The women who alleged they had been sexually assaulted are understood to be aged 21 and 25.
Sources at Valencia FC have been quoted as saying they are going to see how the ongoing investigation against Rafa 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.
Mir, full name Rafael Mir Vicente, won the 2019 European Championship with the Spain Under 21 football team and a silver medal with the Olympic team at the 2020 tournament.
He joined Wolves on a four-and-a-half year contract in January 2018 and took the number 9 shirt, linking up with former Valencia boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
He had loan spells at Las Palmas and Nottingham Forest while with Wolves, and left 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. Daily Mail