A Spanish court sentenced Elche player Rafa Mir to eight and a half years in prison for a crime of sexual assault and another of injuries, the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencia region reported this Monday (15). According to the information provided by the court at The sentence also includes the sentencing of a second defendant, a friend of the Spanish athlete, to two and a half years in prison "for a crime of sexual assault and six months for a crime against moral integrity", in addition to the payment of a fine for a minor injury infraction. The court ordered Mir, who declared himself innocent, to pay compensation of 64,000 euros (376,384 reais, at current exchange rates) to the victim. The events occurred on September 1, 2024 at the player's residence, in the town of Bétera, in Valencia, after he and his friend met two women in a nightclub. The 28-year-old striker came through Valencia's youth ranks before embarking on an international career that took him to Wolverhampton and a series of loan spells at various clubs. He later signed with Sevilla, with whom he played in European competitions, and later transferred to Elche. al/mdm/du/meb/yr/fp X