Valencia striker Rafa Mir firmly denied accusations of sexual assault on Thursday, following his conditional release from custody while an investigation is ongoing. Mir, 27, called for his right to presumption of innocence to be respected.
The arrest occurred on Monday after a woman filed a complaint against the footballer. Mir appeared before a judge on Wednesday, who ordered his conditional release. The judge will now oversee an investigation to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for a trial or if the case should be dismissed.
“Rafa Mir categorically denies the allegations. The legal process will clarify the facts and demonstrate that the accusation is baseless,” stated Mir’s lawyer, Jaime Campaner.
The court is investigating Mir for an alleged crime of sexual assault involving intercourse. During the investigation, he must report to the court regularly and is prohibited from leaving the country.
Mir, who has also played for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sevilla, is currently on loan to Valencia, the club where he began his career. A Valencia source mentioned that Mir has been granted leave on Thursday and Friday and may resume training on Monday.
This case follows other high-profile sexual assault incidents in La Liga. Last year, Celta Vigo terminated Santi Mina’s contract after he was sentenced to four years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in 2017. Additionally, Brazilian footballer Dani Alves was released from a Spanish prison in March after serving part of his sentence for raping a woman in 2022.
