September, Thursday 19, 2024

Former Brazilian and Barcelona football star Dani Alves refutes allegations of nightclub rape in court


wI4ZwdT4YGZ1WQY.png

Former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves has denied raping a woman in a nightclub as he appeared in court for the final day of his trial in Spain. The 40-year-old has been held in prison without bail since his arrest in January last year. Speaking in court, Alves claimed that the woman could have left if she wanted to and that he is not a violent person. Prosecutors are seeking a nine-year jail sentence and financial compensation. The details of the case may be distressing for some readers. Alves' accuser previously testified that he lured her into a toilet in the VIP section of a nightclub before forcing her to have sex with him. Alves refuted these claims, stating that she was not obligated to stay and that she never asked to leave. He also denied hitting the woman. The prosecution alleges that Alves and his friend bought champagne for three young women before coercing one of them to join them in an area with an undisclosed toilet. Once inside, they assert that Alves became violent and forced the woman to engage in sexual acts against her will. A psychologist who treated the woman after the alleged rape testified that there was no evidence to suggest that she fabricated or exaggerated the situation and that she displayed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. Defense experts contended that her distress may have been exacerbated by the media scrutiny surrounding the case. An acquaintance of Alves claimed in court that he had consumed a significant amount of alcohol before entering the nightclub. Alves' wife testified that he appeared heavily intoxicated when he returned home, stumbling into furniture before collapsing on the bed. A friend of the alleged victim tearfully recounted how the woman had "cried uncontrollably" after leaving the toilet and mentioned that Alves had "really hurt" her. Alves initially denied knowing the woman in a television interview but later admitted to having consensual sex with her. Rape allegations in Spain fall under the category of sexual assault, and convictions can result in prison sentences ranging from four to 15 years. The public prosecutor is seeking a nine-year term and requesting Alves to pay €150,000 ($128,000) in damages to the woman. A verdict is expected in the coming weeks. Alves, a highly decorated footballer who has played for prominent clubs such as Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain, has more than 400 appearances for Barcelona and has won six league titles and three Champions Leagues. Additionally, he represented Brazil in the 2022 World Cup. Alves' most recent club, Pumas UNAM in Mexico, terminated his contract immediately following his arrest in January 2023.