Brazilian soccer star Dani Alves has been remanded to jail by a Spanish judge as part of an ongoing investigation into a s*xual assault charge. The judge at the Catalonia Higher Court of Justice has ruled that Alves be held in provisional custody without bail, as the case progresses.
The case stems from allegations made by a woman who claims she was assaulted by Alves in a Barcelona nightclub last December. On Friday, the woman and a witness testified separately before the investigating magistrate in closed-door sessions.
The woman’s attorney has initiated a private prosecution against Alves in addition to the state prosecutor’s case. The details of the testimonies have not been disclosed publicly.
Alves, who was detained by Catalan regional police earlier on Friday, has consistently denied the allegations. In a recent video sent to Spanish media, Alves rejected the accusations, and Reuters has reported that he maintains his innocence.
At 39 years old, Alves is celebrated as one of the most accomplished football players of his generation, with domestic titles in Spain, Italy, and France, as well as three Champions League titles with Barcelona.