Footballer Gylfi Sigurðsson has decided not to sue for damages against the British authorities in connection with a prolonged criminal investigation that was eventually dropped last April. This was revealed by attorney Róbert Spanó in a written response to an inquiry from Mbl.is.
No suit for damages, all things being equal
Icelandic footballer Gylfi Sigurðsson has chosen not to pursue legal action against British authorities after a 637-day investigation by the Manchester police into allegations of sexual offenses, Mbl.is reports.
“After careful consideration, Gylfi has decided to look ahead. All things being equal, he intends to refrain from claiming damages,” Róbert Spanó, Gylfi’s attorney, stated in a written response to an inquiry from Mbl.is.
As previously reported by IR, Gylfi was arrested in July 2021. He was released on bail shortly after his arrest but has not played a professional football match since then. The charges were dropped in April of this year after an investigation team collaborating with the Crown Prosecution Service concluded that the available evidence did “not reach the threshold set out on the Code for Crown Prosecutors.”
Mbl.is reports that Gylfi, who was under contract with the English Premier League team Everton, suffered considerable financial losses as a result of the investigation. “His football career has also suffered a considerable setback,” Mbl.is notes.
Attorney Róbert Spanó had previously told Mbl.is that Gylfi was considering a lawsuit. “In my opinion, it is clear that the handling of the case in the UK took far too long in light of the circumstances. It has caused significant damage to Gylfi and his family, as well as enormous harm. In the coming days, Gylfi will receive legal advice on whether there is a reason to seek justice in the British courts,” Róbert told Mbl.is in April.
Mbl.is notes that the English Premier League team Everton intends to seek compensation for the case and demands 10 million pounds or what amounts to about ISK 1.7 billion.
