Spanish prosecutors are pursuing a nine-year prison sentence for ex-Brazilian football star Dani Alves, who is charged with sexually assaulting a young woman at a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022.
At the age of 40, Alves is set to undergo trial in Spain on charges of allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at a nightclub in December 2022.
The prosecution is also expected to seek €150,000 in compensation for the purported victim. The trial date remains undetermined.
In an order, Section 21 of the Barcelona high court affirmed Alves’ prosecution in an order, citing the alleged victim’s statement, witness testimonies, and expert corroboration as sufficient evidence to proceed with the sexual assault charge.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player was taken into custody in January following accusations of raping a young woman in a nightclub bathroom in Barcelona on December 30, 2022.
Alves has been held in a Barcelona prison without bail since the allegations surfaced, with his repeated requests for release denied by the court due to concerns about him being a flight risk.
Initially, when the accusations were made public, Alves asserted in a television interview that he was not acquainted with the woman involved. Subsequently, he claimed that the encounter with the accuser was consensual. An investigative judge officially indicted him in August.
On January 20, his contract with Liga MX club Pumas UNAM, which he joined after departing Barcelona in June 2022, was terminated.
In Spain, a rape case can lead to a maximum sentence of 15 years. Despite the legal challenges he faces, Alves remains one of the most decorated players globally.
Accumulating a total of 42 titles, he secured three UEFA Champions League championships with Barcelona and clinched two Copa América titles with Brazil. He also participated in his third World Cup in Qatar last year.