Brazil Star Dani Alves Facing Sexual Assault Charges
After being detained on suspicion of sexual assault, Brazilian football star Dani Alves was remanded in custody by a Spanish court.
A judge in Barcelona decided after questioning the 39-year-old player about "events that allegedly took place at a nightclub," the court said in a statement on Friday.
Alves had been arrested after appearing at a police station in Barcelona in response to a warrant, and he was later brought to a judge before, Al Jazeera reported.
In Spain, an act ranging from unwanted touch to rape can be considered sexual assault.
The alleged victim reported on December 30 that she was at a nightclub in Barcelona when the Brazilian footballer and former Barcelona star inappropriately grabbed her without her consent.
The woman went to the nightclub's security with her pals to report the assault, and they called the police.
When the police arrived, they interviewed the victim. She made a formal report of Dani Alves' sexual assault incident on January 2.
Alves denied engaging in such conduct during an interview with Antena 3 earlier this month, even though he admitted to being in the club with other people.
"I was dancing and having a good time without invading anyone's space," he said. "I don't know who this lady is ... How could I do that to a woman? No."
Alves has been one of the most decorated players in football history, having won championships with top teams like Barcelona, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain.
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Brazil Football Star Dani Alves' Sexual Assault Allegation
The woman claims she and her friends visited the nightclub on December 30 and were invited to the VIP area by a group of Mexican descent.
A waiter approached them and extended an invitation, but she says they initially declined. However, the customer was adamant, and the waiter responded that he was a "friend," as stated in the report.
They agreed, and by the end of the night, Dani Alves and his friend were sitting at the VIP table.
After meeting the three women, Dani Alves "immediately started fooling around with the three women, hitting on them a lot and touching them," as one of the women put it.
The Brazil football star allegedly went after her. According to the accusation, he "grabbed her hand tightly and Alves pulled it towards his penis," a move he allegedly did multiple times despite her refusal.
Dani Alves then "urged her to follow him inside" a door that the victim was completely unaware of, according to Marca.
After getting inside the bathroom, the victim stated that "Alves forced her to sit on top of him, threw her to the floor, forced her to perform fellatio, which she actively resisted, slapped her, lifted her off the floor, and penetrated her until he ejaculated," as reported by El Periodico.
The victim was checked for biological traces at Barcelona's Hospital Clinic.
She went to the Mossos d'Esquadra two days after the alleged assault to file a report and gave them her clothes and medical results.
The investigation was headed up by the UCAS Central Unit, which deals with sexual assaults.
Dani Alves' Wife Defended Him Following Alleged Sexual Assault
Dani Alves's wife, Joana Sanz, has rallied around him during this difficult time, and the model has taken to social media to show her support.
A snapshot of their entwined hands captioned "Together" was posted on the woman's Instagram account.
Joana has expressed gratitude to her family and friends and the unknown individuals standing by her side during this difficult time.
Sanz thanked everyone for messages of support and affection, Marca noted.
"I've felt very wrapped up in this dark beginning of the year. I will return like the phoenix."
Leopoldo Silva, president of the Liga MX team Pumas UNAM, decided to release Alves from his contract in a video message released later Friday, per ESPN.
Anuncio a la afición universitaria y medios de comunicación por parte del Ing. Leopoldo Silva, presidente del Club Universidad Nacional.#SoyDePumas #OrigenDeLaPasión pic.twitter.com/FyaTdWEK6s
— PUMAS (@PumasMX) January 20, 2023
"Club Universidad makes the decision to terminate the contract with Dani Alves with just cause," Silva said.
This week, Brazil football star Dani Alves flew back to Spain from Mexico to face the charges against him. He turned himself into a police station in Barcelona Friday, and from there, he was transported to the Ciutat de la Justicia for questioning by a judge.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: Dani Alves Under Investigation for Sexual Assault in Barcelona Nightclub - From W Football+
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