Icelandic footballer Gylfi Þór Sigurðsson will not be charged with a criminal offence and has been cleared of all charges, the football website fotbolti.net reports. An investigation team collaborating with the Crown Prosecution Service has concluded that the available evidence does “not reach the threshold set out on the Code for Crown Prosecutors.”
Charges dropped after a near two-year investigation
A statement from the police in Manchester, published in an article on Fotbolti.net today, reveals that the former Everton midfielder and captain of the Icelandic football team Gylfi Þór Sigurðsson will face “no further action.” Gylfi was arrested in July 2021 on suspicion of sexual offences against a minor. He was released on bail shortly after his arrest but has not played a professional football match since then.
The investigation into the case was finally completed last January, which was when the police handed over the results of its investigation to the Office of the Crown Prosecutor in the UK. As previously noted, it was up to the prosecutor’s office to determine the next steps, i.e. whether charges would be filed in the case or whether they would be dropped. The decision has now been made to drop the case after almost two years. Iceland Review received a copy of the original statement from fotbolti.net:
“The 33-year-old man who was arrested in connection with an investigation opened in June 2021 will face no further action. The investigation team and Crown Prosecution Service have been working together and reached the decision that the evidence available at this time does not reach the threshold set out on (sic) the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
Greater Manchester Police is committed to investigating allegations to secure the best possible outcomes for all involved and will continue to work with partner agencies to ensure individuals are supported throughout investigations and beyond.”
Gylfi Þór was removed from the active roster for the Premier League team Everton and his contract was not renewed when it expired last summer. Gylfi has not played with the Icelandic Men’s National Team since his arrest. He has also been subject to a travel ban, which has prevented him from leaving the UK since his arrest.
This article will be updated.
