The break-in

Five hooded men broke into the home of former goalkeeper Sergio Rico and his wife, influencer Alba Silva, on the night of 19 October, around 22:00 according to most reports. The house is in a private urbanisation in La Juliana, Bollullos de la Mitación, on the Aljarafe outskirts of Seville. The family was eating dinner with their two young children and Alba Silva's mother when the men came in through the front door, reportedly while the alarms were switched off because it was still early in the evening. The men took jewellery, watches and cash, and ransacked the rest of the house. The family ran to a room and locked themselves in, but the intruders forced the door.

Conflicting accounts

The details of the violence differ between outlets. Vamos a ver, as relayed by Europa Press and La Razón, reported that the attackers beat and gagged the family. La Razón's version also described the men as armed with pistols, a detail Hola reportedly gave as well, according to SAPO. Sergio Rico denied on the programme and on his social channels that there was any beating or physical assault, according to EL MUNDO and Fanpage. Timings also vary: SAPO, citing Vamos a ver, put the break-in at about 21:00, while most other reports say 22:00.

Complaint and investigation

The couple filed a complaint at the Guardia Civil command in Sanlúcar la Mayor, and the Guardia Civil is working to identify the perpetrators. La Razón reported that investigators do not rule out an organised criminal gang and that the attackers were not Spanish, though that account was relayed from the programme. Hola, cited by SAPO, said the robbery may have been planned because of the apparent professionalism of the attackers, but no confirmation has been made. Authorities reportedly advised Alba Silva not to speak to the press while the investigation is open. She nonetheless spoke in tears to journalist Kike Calleja. Rico, who is currently without a club after a spell at Al Gharafa in Qatar, also appeared on the programme to confirm the theft. SAPO, citing Hola, noted that three years earlier a serious accident involving a horse had left Rico in a coma for 26 days.