Ex-Wolves and Nott’m Forest player speaks out after arrest on suspicion of alleged sexual assault

Ex-Wolves and Nott’m Forest player Rafa Mir speaks out after being bailed following his arrest on suspicion of alleged sexual assault.

The 27 year old former Premier League player, currently at Valencia, on loan from Sevilla, has publicly addressed the situation after he was taken into custody last week, and remained in police detention for two days before being released.

As part of his bail conditions, he’s required to surrender his passport, adhere to a restraining order, and refrain from contacting the alleged victim. He must also report to the courthouse on a weekly basis.

Now he’s issued a statement on the allegations…

COMUNICADO OFICIAL pic.twitter.com/ovD1vHLLfX

— Rafa Mir (@RafaMir33) September 9, 2024

STATEMENT:

‘As soon as he was able to get to work on equal terms with the accusations, the case has taken an important turn that shows what unfounded that the complaint is.

‘I fully trust the Administration of Justice of this country, with which I have collaborated from the first minute to clarify the facts.

‘For all this, I want to express my most sincere and deep apologies to my Club, Valencia CF, to the coaching staff, to my teammates and mainly to the Valencia fans, for failing to comply, even on a day off, with the established schedules that are expected of a professional and even more so after a start to the season far from our expectations. From now on, as a professional footballer, all my energies are focused on helping my club and my teammates.

‘I don’t want to forget to thank my family for the love and support they have shown me at all times. Your love and the truth will make me overcome this traumatic situation that I am experiencing.

‘That being said, following the advice of my lawyer, we will work in the courts and not in the media or on social networks.’

This came four days after the one from his laywer Campaner, managing partner of the law firm Campaner Law, released on his behalf.

Campaner said per MailOnline: ‘Given the incessant and overwhelming number of publications in the media and social networks, as well as calls and attempts to contact media outlets in this country, our professional office is forced to issue this information note:

‘1.- Rafa Mir categorically denies the charges against him and, as announced by the press office of the High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community, he was released on bail yesterday.

‘2.- Rafa Mir’s presumption of innocence must be respected, as required by both the Spanish Constitution and European Directive 2016/343.

‘3.- The recently opened criminal proceedings will serve to clarify the facts and will show that the charge is not sustained.

‘4.- Judicial proceedings are confidential (article 301 of the Criminal Procedure Law), therefore, given the apparent biased and partial leak of elements supposedly extracted from the summary, this defense will not participate in any parallel trial.

‘5.- Neither Mr. Mir nor his defense attorney will make statements to the media, limiting themselves to actively participating in the criminal process that is still in its embryonic phase. Sincerely, Jaime Campaner Muñoz.’

Valencia Football Club said last week: ‘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.’

They further said on Monday (9th September): “Valencia CF wishes to reiterate its firm condemnation of all types of violence in any of its manifestations, while respecting the presumption of innocence promulgated by our legal system.

“It is only Justice that must set the times and actions regarding the substance of the alleged facts for which Rafa Mir is being investigated.

“However, as it depends on the Club, and within the framework of its powers, Valencia CF has analyzed the situation from the point of view of the sanctioning regime applicable to the field of professional football and has decided to undertake disciplinary measures.

“Specifically, the Club will proceed to open a file against Rafa Mir, understanding that his way of proceeding, during his time off, unquestionably affects the professional performance expected of him as a player of this Club; also damaging the trust that our fans have in all their players.

“The Club will continue to collaborate with Justice in everything that it may require from us.”