Sevilla striker Rafa Mir has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison after being convicted of sexual assault and bodily harm, the Valencian Community High Court of Justice said on Monday.
Court Verdict
Mir, who was tried on May 28, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault and one count of bodily harm by the provincial court of Valencia. The high court announced the conviction on social media platform X, noting that the ruling can still be appealed.
Second Defendant Convicted
A second defendant, a friend of the footballer, was also convicted and sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for a count of sexual assault and an offense against moral integrity, in addition to a small fine for a minor offense of bodily harm.
The court ordered Mir, who pleaded not guilty, to pay the victim 64,000 euros ($74,000) in compensation.
Details of the Offenses
The offenses took place on September 1, 2024, at Mir's residence in the Valencian town of Betera. Mir and his friend met two women at a nightclub before the incident. Both were arrested in September 2024 after the women accused them of sexual assault.
Appeal Planned
After the sentence, Mir confirmed on Monday that he will appeal. 'I do not agree with the ruling, and we will appeal in the coming days,' Mir posted on Instagram. 'I still have faith in the justice system.'
Mir, 28, who played this season on loan at LaLiga side Elche from Sevilla, maintained his innocence during the one-day hearing in Valencia on May 28, insisting the two women consented to sexual relations with him.
Background
At the time of the incident, Mir was playing on loan at Valencia from Sevilla, while Jara was on the books of lower division club Alcantarilla FC. A former Spain under-21 and under-23 international, Mir started his senior career at Valencia and also played for Las Palmas and Huesca.
