MADRID: Dani Alves denied wrongdoing after being indicted by a judge in a sexual assault case in Spain on Wednesday.
The Brazilian soccer star told the judge in a Barcelona court that he was not in agreement with the findings of the investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman at a nightclub in Barcelona on Dec. 30.
Alves was indicted after being formally informed by the judge of her findings. Prosecutors will now specify the charges against him. A trial date will be set for later this year or early in 2024.
Alves was also ordered to set aside 150,000 euros ($164,000) to pay his alleged victim if he is eventually found guilty and ordered to pay damages.
Lawyers said that the former Barcelona defender spoke briefly before the judge on Wednesday. He has said that the sex was consensual.
Alves has been in custody since January awaiting the conclusion of the investigation. He is expected to remain in custody awaiting the trial. His bail requests have been denied because he is considered a flight risk. The player had offered to turn in his passports and wear a tracking device.
A judge ordered Alves to be jailed after analyzing the initial probe by authorities and hearing testimony from the alleged victim, witnesses and Alves.
Alves’ lawyers unsuccessfully tried to discredit testimony by the alleged victim and other witnesses by presenting security camera footage at the nightclub. The court has said that any flirting should not “in any way justify an eventual sexual assault.”
Under Spain’s sexual consent law passed last year, sexual assault takes in a wide array of crimes from online abuse and groping to rape, each with different possible punishments. A case of rape can carry a maximum sentence of 15 years.
The 40-year-old Alves won 42 soccer titles, including three Champions Leagues with Barcelona and two Copa Americas with Brazil. He played in his third World Cup last year in Qatar.
Dani Alves indicted in sexual assault case in Spain
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Dani Alves indicted in sexual assault case in Spain
- Alves was indicted after being formally informed by the judge of her findings
- Lawyers said that the former Barcelona defender spoke briefly before the judge on Wednesday
UAE, Egypt share points as Jordan, Algeria and Iraq book Arab Cup quarter-final spots
- Arab Cup reaching the finale of the group stages as knockouts loom
DOHA: The UAE and Egypt played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday to keep both sides’ progression hopes alive at the Arab Cup, while Jordan, Algeria and Iraq all secured their places in the quarter-finals.
Cosmin Olaroiu’s UAE side had the best chance of the opening half, with Mohamed Bassam producing a fine outstretched-leg save to deny Bruno from close range. They eventually broke the deadlock on the hour mark through a flowing counter-attack from one end of the pitch to the other, Nicolas Jimenez squaring for Caio Lucas to sweep the ball past Bassam.
Egypt rescued a share of the spoils late on when Karim Eraky delivered an 85th-minute cross that Marwan Hamdy headed back across goal.
The Pharaohs thought they had snatched a winner moments later, but the effort was ruled out for offside in the build-up, leaving Egypt second in the group, a point clear of both the UAE and Kuwait.
Jordan became the latest team to book their place in the quarter-finals with a dramatic 3-1 victory over Kuwait in Group C at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. The World Cup 2026 qualifiers caught Kuwait off guard for the opening goal, taking a quick free-kick some 30 yards out for Mohannad Abu Taha to unleash a fierce strike beyond Sulaiman Abdulghafour.
Abdulghafour was tested repeatedly and beaten again early in the second half as Saed Al-Rosan converted from close range following another dangerous corner delivery from Mahmoud Mardi.
Kuwait set up a tense finale when substitute Yousef Nasser headed home from Eid Al-Rashidi’s cross, but Ali Olwan sealed the result deep into added time by converting a penalty after being brought down by the goalkeeper.
Defending champions Algeria underlined their title credentials with a commanding 5-1 win over Bahrain, with Qatar-based players playing a decisive role in all five goals.
Al-Wakrah’s Redouane Berkane opened the scoring before setting up Al-Duhail’s Adil Boulbina for the second, shortly after Bahrain had levelled during a frantic six-minute spell.
Berkane then won a penalty, converted by Yassine Benzia in first-half stoppage time, before scoring his second shortly after the restart.
Substitute Yacine Brahimi later teed up Boulbina for his second as Algeria completed a comfortable victory, maintaining an unbeaten start ahead of their group finale against Iraq on Tuesday.
Iraq also progressed to the last eight after withstanding heavy early pressure from Sudan before striking twice late on at Stadium 974.
After spending much of the first half on the back foot, Graham Arnold’s side took the lead when Player of the Match Mohanad Ali capitalised on a poor defensive header from a free-kick. Amjed Attwan then secured the win six minutes from time, sending the passionate Iraq support into raptures.
