BARCELONA: A Spanish court on Friday ordered Brazil defender Dani Alves to be held without bail after he was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a woman in Barcelona.
The court said in a statement that a Barcelona judge took the step after questioning the 39-year-old about “incidents that allegedly took place in a nightclub”.
Sources close to the dossier said the judge took the step — requested by prosecutors — because the court believed Alves would try to flee.
One of soccer’s most successful players, Elvis, was detained on Friday after being summoned to a Barcelona police station and then brought before a judge.
Catalan police said they received a complaint on January 2 from a woman who accused Alves of sexual assault.
A sexual assault charge in Spain can mean anything from unsolicited and unwanted sexual assault to rape.
While police declined to release any details about the case, a source close to the investigation told JEE News that Alves was accused of rape.
Sources added that the woman reiterated her allegation before the judge on Friday.
According to Spanish media reports, the alleged sexual assault took place on the night of December 30-31 at a popular nightclub in Barcelona.
He is said to have informed security staff at the club, who activated the Barcelona City Council’s protocol against assaults and sexual harassment.
‘Nothing went wrong’
A Barcelona court said earlier this month that it had “opened an investigation into the alleged crime of sexual assault as a result of a complaint filed by a woman against a footballer.”
Elvis has confirmed he was at the nightclub at the time but has denied any wrongdoing, telling private Spanish television station Antena 3 earlier this month that he had never seen the woman before.
The former Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain player added, “I was there, in that place, more people having fun. Everyone knows I like to dance. Having a good time but at other people’s places. without attacking,” added the former Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain player.
His wife, Spanish model Juana Sanz, told Antenna 3 in an interview on January 9 that her husband went to “have dinner with friends, to disconnect a little” on December 30.
“He tries to dance and enjoy music as he likes,” he added.
Alves, who now plays for Mexican side Pumas UNAM, was in Barcelona on holiday after attending the World Cup with Brazil in Qatar.
He was the oldest player to represent Brazil at the Men’s World Cup.
In an exceptionally successful career, Alves made 408 appearances for Barcelona, 391 of which came in his first spell between 2008-2016.
During this initial period, he won six La Liga titles, three Champions League crowns and four Copa del Rey trophies.
Alves joined PSG on a free transfer in July 2017 after leaving Juventus and spent two years at the Qatari-owned French giants.
