Danish footballer Patrick da Silva placed in pre-trial detention over sexual crime allegations in Denmark

Danish footballer Patrick da Silva, who has represented the club KÍ for the past three years, was placed in pre-trial detention for four weeks on Friday, facing charges related to five criminal offenses, according to frihedsbrevet.fo.

The allegations involve sexual crimes. Patrick da Silva is accused of grooming, which entails establishing contact with a child or young person under the age of 18 with the intent of sexual engagement, attempting to engage with a child under 15, and violations related to indecency.

The offenses reportedly occurred in Denmark.

Patrick da Silva had a contract with KÍ until the end of the season, but the club has terminated this agreement in light of the current situation. According to information received from the police, the crimes were committed in Denmark, as confirmed by the club on ki.fo.

“We as a club fundamentally believe that individuals deserve a second chance, but in this case, it is regrettably a reality that we made a misjudgment,” stated Tummas Lervig, the chairman of KÍ.

In 2022, Patrick da Silva was sentenced to 20 days of conditional imprisonment for an incident involving indecency against a 14-year-old girl, just before he signed a contract with KÍ. At the time, then-KÍ coach Mikkjal Thomassen commented, “We have assessed the matter soberly. From our perspective, he is not a danger, and it is acceptable to give such a person a new chance, after which he must prove that we made the right decision in doing so.”