Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, who was called up to the Spanish national team to face Brazil in an international friendly, found himself involved in controversy over the breed of his dog (XL Bully), prohibited in the United Kingdom since 2023.
“It’s a breed that has been outlawed in the country, I’ve had him for a year, I’m training him to be a good dog, a house dog, to keep us company. I wasn’t training him so that no one would want to enter the house, but you know how the media are,” he said at a press conference.
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Raya has permission
The Sun accused the Spanish goalkeeper of training his pet, named Goku, to protect his home against thieves after several Premier League footballers had been robbed in their homes in recent times.
But it turns out the Gunners star obtained a “responsible owner” certificate to have Goku, who receives thorough training from a specialized company. The company in question, according to The Sun, has 35 years of experience and charges £20,000 for the service.
“Everyone who has an XL Bully has concerns. But David is a responsible owner and wants to be so with Goku. We are training him,” said a spokesperson for Elite Protection Dogs, the company hired by Raya, in statements quoted by Globo Esporte.
🐕 Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has enlisted expert trainers to help his XL bully dog protect him
❌ The breed has been added to a banned list in the UK, but the Spaniard has an exemption allowing him to keep one-year-old Gokuhttps://t.co/Rgf0JtPGHf pic.twitter.com/gRLm4CCIjQ
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) February 26, 2024
In October 2023, the XL Bully breed was included in a law that prohibits the adoption of certain dog breeds following documented attacks. In public, they must be on a leash and wear a muzzle.
Now that he has clarified this situation, the former Brentford player can focus on the March international window with his country. La Roja will face Colombia on Friday (22), while four days later they will host Brazil at the Santiago Bernabéu. In this match, both teams will seek to send a strong message against racism.
