Ex-Barcelona Defender Alves Faces 9-year In Prison Over Alleged Sexual Assault 

Dani Alves, a former full-back for Barcelona and Brazil, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a nightclub and faces a nine-year prison term.

Alves is scheduled to go on trial in Spain for the alleged assault that happened in Barcelona in December 2022. According to Mundo Deportivo, the prosecutor’s office is asking for a nine-year prison sentence for the former Barcelona player. After serving his jail sentence, Alves may also be required to pay damages totaling €150,000 (£130,500/$163,000) and receive a restraining order. After being taken into custody in January, the former Barcelona player has been incarcerated.

READ ALSO: Why De Zerbi Is Better Than Guardiola – Ex-Barca Star Explains 

Alves initially denied he knew the woman involved in a television interview. He subsquently said that he did have consensual sex with his accuser but denied any wrong-doing.

“I have a really clear conscience regarding what happened that night in the bathroom of the VIP area of the Sutton nightclub,” he told La Vanguardia in June. “What happened and what didn’t happen. And what didn’t happen is that I forced this woman to do anything that we did.”

Alves is one of the most successful footballers in the world, winning 42 titles during his playing career. The defender starred for Barcelona, winning three Champions League crowns, and twice won the Copa America with Brazil. Alves had been in Barcelona on holiday after featuring for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup when the incident took place. He was subsequently sacked by club side Pumas following his arrest.

The 40-year-old is still in jail and has had bail requests denied; a trial date has not yet been scheduled for him. The maximum penalty in Spain for rape cases is fifteen years in prison.