One of football’s popular and most successful players, Dani Alves, was detained on Friday after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Spain.
The experienced Brazilian right back, who now plays for Mexican team Pumas, was reportedly also denied bail by a judge. The alleged assault took place on Dec. 31 at an exclusive nightclub in downtown Barcelona, police told The Associated Press.
🚨 BREAKING:
Dani Alves has been sent to prison without any option of bail.
Crazy…😳
pic.twitter.com/FuVU4y7Hp1— george (@StokeyyG2) January 20, 2023
Alves had denied any wrongdoing several days before his arrest.
Dani Alves was taken into custody after he answered a police summons while in Spain. State prosecutors had asked for him to be held without bail, and a judge agreed after charging him with sexual assault following several hours of testimony.
Unless that decision is reversed on appeal, Alves will remain in custody until trial at a still unspecified date.
A charge of sexual assault in Spain can mean anything from unsolicited and unwanted sexual groping to rape. Police said they could not give any details on the case. Rape can be subject to prison terms of up to 15 years under a new law passed last year.
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Alves denied the allegations last week in a video he sent to Spanish television channel Antena 3.
While acknowledging he had gone dancing at the club on the night of the alleged assault, he said he did not know the woman and was always “respectful” of others.
“I was there having a good time with other people,” Alves said. “Everyone who knows me knows that I like dancing. I was having a good time, but I never invaded the personal space of anyone. I always am respectful.”
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