Dani Alves, former player of Barcelona and the Brazil national football team, will stand trial in Barcelona today, Monday, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in a nightclub restroom in the city in 2022. The 40-year-old Brazilian defender was arrested last year in the Spanish city and has been in custody since then. Alves initially denied any sexual encounter with the woman, claiming he did not know her. He later stated that he had consensual sex with the alleged victim, explaining that he initially denied it to protect his marriage.
The case has garnered significant attention, not only due to Alves' history but also because sexual assault is a politically important issue in Spain, especially following the alleged non-consensual kiss by former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales on player Jenni Hermoso's lips after her team won the World Cup last August.
In Spain, allegations of rape are investigated under the general charge of sexual assault, which can lead to imprisonment for a period of four to 15 years. The Spanish prosecutor is seeking a nine-year prison sentence for Alves and is also demanding that he pay €150,000 ($163,215) in damages to the woman.
The trial, which is expected to last three days, will be presided over by a panel of three judges in the highest court in Barcelona. It will include testimony from Alves, the alleged victim, and about 30 other individuals. The alleged victim will testify from behind a screen, and her voice and image will be distorted in the recording of the trial to protect her identity.
The gang rape of a teenager in 2016 during the San Fermín bull-running festival led to stricter sexual violence laws in Spain. Dani Alves is one of the most successful football players in history, having won over 40 titles with his country and clubs like Barcelona.
