Former Premier League star released on bail in Spain after arrest for alleged sexual assault | Football | Sport

Former Premier League striker Rafa Mir has been released on bail in Spain after being arrested over alleged sexual assault. Mir and fellow footballer Pablo Jara were arrested on Tuesday following allegations made by two women.

The alleged victims say they were sexually abused by Mir and Jara in Mir's home. Neither footballer has been charged and Mir's lawyer said the sexual relations were consensual.

Spanish police confirmed the arrest on Tuesday and Valencia, where Mir now plays, said they were aware of the arrest. The former Wolves and Nottingham Forest striker was absent from training on Tuesday.

An investigating judge in Spain has ordered the conditional release of Mir, who was released on bail. Both players are due to give evidence at a court in Lliria, north of Valencia.

The conditions include that 27-year-old Mir will have his passport revoked, be banned from leaving the country and receive an injunction prohibiting him from communicating with the alleged victim and staying within 460 meters of him.

The judge will investigate the complaint and decide whether there is sufficient evidence to put Mir on trial or whether the case should be closed.

“He is under arrest for alleged sexual assault,” a spokesman for the Spanish Guardia Civil told the AFP news agency on Tuesday.

A statement from his La Liga club read: “With regard to the press reports that have appeared about the arrest of Valencia CF player Rafa Mir, the club is aware of this arrest and, in the absence of details about it, can only state at the moment that it will cooperate with anything that the justice system may request.”

Mir began his professional career at Valencia, but only made two La Liga appearances before joining Wolves in 2018. However, he only made two Premier League appearances and spent time on loan at Las Palmas, Nottingham Forest and Huesca.

His time at Forest was similarly unsuccessful, with the former Spain U21 international failing to score in 11 games. His career thereafter was much more successful and he moved to Valencia on loan in the summer, having scored 18 goals in 75 games for Sevilla.

Mir came on as a substitute in Valencia's 1-1 draw with Villarreal on Saturday. His club are bottom of La Liga after a dismal start, picking up just one point from their first four games before the international break.