Albert Guðmundsson returns to Iceland for court hearing in sexual assault case

Albert Guðmundsson, a professional footballer, has returned to Iceland from Italy to attend the main court hearing in a sexual assault case against him. The hearing is scheduled to take place on Thursday at the District Court of Reykjavik.

Albert is accused of committing an offense against a woman in her thirties. Although the case initially did not appear on the court’s agenda, Albert’s lawyer has confirmed his presence at the hearing. The charges stem from allegations made last year, which the police investigated and initially dismissed in the spring due to a lack of evidence sufficient for a conviction. Following an appeal by the alleged victim, the decision was reversed by the state attorney in May. Albert has consistently maintained his innocence.

As is customary in sexual offense cases, the court proceedings will be closed to the public. Albert attended a preliminary hearing via video link on July 3. Due to the ongoing case, he has been prohibited from playing for the national team, first following the allegation and then again after the reversal of the dismissal. Despite this, his club status remains unaffected, and he has recently signed a contract with Fiorentina, an Italian club, after previously being with Genoa.

The legal proceedings against him have drawn significant attention in Iceland, highlighting the challenges surrounding cases of sexual assault and the implications for those involved in the public eye.