“You came in a boat”: Spanish striker Rafa Mir suspected of racism avoids provisional suspension, investigation opened

He had a narrow escape…for now. Accused by Espanyol Barcelona defender Omar El-Hilali of having made racist remarks during a championship match on Sunday, Rafa Mir was not provisionally sanctioned by the disciplinary committee of the Spanish Football Federation. The Elche striker should start in his team’s match against Villarreal on Sunday (2 p.m.).

He had been accused by his Moroccan opponent of having told him: “you came in a boat” during the meeting. Enough to push the referee to trigger the anti-racism protocol provided for this type of situation, and to write a report containing the facts reported.

It is notably indicated that the exchange between the two men “could not be heard by any of the members of the refereeing team”. The match was stopped for a few minutes before resuming in the presence of Rafa Mir, who also scored the equalizing goal from a penalty at the end of the match (2-2).

An open “confidential” investigation

Lacking evidence, Rafa Mir having covered his mouth at the time of the altercation, the disciplinary committee had no other choice than to give the benefit of the doubt to the player, who denies the facts with which he is accused.

He was therefore not provisionally sanctioned, unlike Benfica striker Gianluca Prestianni, suspended by UEFA for the return leg of the Champions League against Real Madrid after being accused of racism by Vinicius Junior on February 17.

“Taking into account the facts recorded in section 6 of the referee’s report, this Disciplinary Commission has decided to open a confidential investigation in order to establish the circumstances of the incident and to determine, if necessary, the disciplinary sanctions which could result from it,” adds the parent body of Spanish football.

Spanish striker Rafa Mir is still indicted for rape by the Valencia court. The 28-year-old player, on loan from Sevilla FC, is suspected of having twice abused a young woman he met in a nightclub in September 2024.