Murcia council to study removing Javalí Nuevo ground name if Rafa Mir conviction stands | OneFootball

Murcia’s city council will consider removing the Javalí Nuevo football ground’s name honouring Rafael Mir Vicente if his eight and a half year prison sentence for sexual assault and causing injury to a young woman is upheld. The striker has said he will appeal.

According to Superdeporte, the council would revoke the 2021 resolution if the sentence, issued by the Provincial Court of Valencia, is confirmed on appeal. The ground has carried his full name since nine October 2021.

Councillor Noguera said no decision would be taken until a final ruling, but that the name would have to change if he is convicted.

He added the council has the power to act and is consulting its legal services, and said he was unaware of a similar case involving a municipal sports facility.

In 2021, after Mir helped Spain win Olympic silver in Tokyo, the neighbourhood board led by María Jesús Barqueros proposed the tribute, with José Antonio Serrano then mayor, both PSOE. The municipal ground also hosted a summer camp he endorsed.

On Tuesday, a day after the sentence, signage bearing his name and image was found vandalised, though club sources at Escuela de Fútbol Javalí Nuevo said it had been that way for days as speculation grew. One sign had bars drawn on it, another was almost erased. Mir spent this season at Elche on loan from Sevilla, having previously played for Valencia, Las Palmas, Huesca, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest.

Source: Superdeporte