Spanish soccer player Rafa Mir sentenced to 8-and-a-half years for sexually assaulting two women

A Madrid court has sentenced Rafa Mir to eight and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting two women in Valencia in 2024, alongside another player. Mir, 28, received seven years for sexual assault and an additional 18 months for causing physical harm; the co-defendant, Pablo J. G., was given two and a half years. Mir had played for Elche on loan from Sevilla, with his contract set to expire at the end of the month. The verdict can be appealed, and Mir denied wrongdoing, claiming the women consented. The case highlights Spain’s handling of high-profile sexual assault cases involving footballers.