Brazilian footballer Dani Alves is set to face trial over accusations of sexual assault involving an incident at a nightclub in Barcelona last year. The decision was confirmed by Section 21 of Barcelona’s high court, citing substantial evidence from statements and investigations.
“The trial has been ordered based on the evidence gathered during the investigation phase and statements provided to the court,” stated the Barcelona-based court. However, a specific date for the trial has not been scheduled yet.
Alves, a 40-year-old defender, has been in custody since January following the allegations. He was initially detained after being accused of assaulting a young woman at a nightclub in Barcelona on December 30, 2022. Requests for release on bail were denied due to concerns regarding flight risk. Follow your favourite La Liga team with attractive La Liga odds from Nextbet.
Despite initial denials, Alves later admitted to engaging in consensual sexual relations with the accuser after earlier denying any acquaintance with her during a televised interview.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star saw his contract with Liga MX club Pumas UNAM terminated on January 20 amid the ongoing legal proceedings.
Following the court’s decision, the prosecutor’s office and the victim’s hired attorneys now have five business days to present their provisional statements. These statements will advocate either for Alves’ acquittal or conviction, alongside proposed penalties if convicted.
Under Spain’s recently passed sexual consent law, the charge of sexual assault encompasses a range of offenses with varying degrees of punishment, including online abuse, groping, and rape, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years.
As proceedings unfold, the anticipation builds around the trial date that will follow the submission of these statements by the involved parties. The case continues to captivate attention as it navigates the complexities of the legal system in addressing such serious allegations. Get the latest updates from the La Liga only on Nextbet Sports.
