Our sources have confirmed that Rafa Mir was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison at first instance on sexual assault charges, and must pay the victim €60,000 in compensation. The court made clear that this judgment is not yet final, and the defense may still appeal.
This case has drawn sustained attention in Spanish football. In September 2024, a woman filed a complaint over sexual assault, and Mir was arrested shortly afterward; his lawyer at the time insisted the relationship was consensual, while Mir himself also denied the allegations entirely. According to the court's published ruling, on the night in question Mir and another footballer met two young women at a nightclub in Valencia, and the group later continued the gathering at Mir's home; in the pool and bathroom of his residence, Mir sexually assaulted one of the women.
Court finds victim's account credible
The verdict document stressed that the victim's account was consistent throughout and highly credible, corroborated by witness testimony and forensic examination reports. Based on this chain of evidence, the court found the sexual assault charge proved and imposed the sentence and compensation accordingly. The €60,000 compensation will be paid directly to the victim, with enforcement proceeding under Spanish judicial procedures.
Valencia player at time of incident, now at Elche
Mil, 28, plays as a forward for Elche in La Liga. It should be clarified that the incident took place in 2024, when Mil was still under contract with Valencia — a traditional powerhouse that has won the league title six times and plays its home matches at the Mestalla, which has a capacity of around 55,000. After moving to Elche, he has appeared at the Martínez Valero Stadium, which holds approximately 36,000. Over his career, Mil has also played for Wolves and Sevilla, and represented Spain at the Tokyo Olympics.
In recent years, judicial cases involving gender-based violence and sexual assault in Spanish sport have frequently made headlines, and public scrutiny of athletes' off-field conduct has clearly tightened. For Mil personally, an eight-and-a-half-year sentence means his playing career faces a fundamental blow; even if an appeal is launched, his eligibility to compete, the validity of his contract, and the club's personnel decisions will remain uncertain until a final ruling is reached.
As of press time, Elche had yet to issue a public response regarding the verdict in this case. This site will continue to follow developments in the appeal, statements from the club, and any subsequent measures the league may take.
