Former Barcelona player Dani Alves will go on trial for allegedly assaulting a lady in a bar late last year. Since his arrest on January 20, the 40-year-old Brazilian international has been held in preventive detention. In an eight-page legal verdict made public today, three justices from Barcelona’s Provincial Court revealed their conclusion.
The document as quoted by The Sun read: “We consider there is sufficient prima facie evidence at this stage to agree the opening of the trial in the terms requested by state prosecutors and the prosecutor acting privately for the alleged victim.
“The statements the alleged victim has made and witness evidence and expert reports that form part of these proceedings can be considered as sufficient in that regard, without prejudice to the final verdict.”
State prosecutors and Alves’ lawyer now have five working days to file their charges describing the jail term, fines, and reparation orders they want if the footballer is found guilty. Alves’ attorney is expected to argue that his client be cleared of all charges. The trial date has not yet been established, but it will most likely take place in the first half of next year.
According to Spanish media, if convicted, the player could face up to 15 years in jail. On December 30, last year, Alves was accused of assaulting a lady at a Barcelona nightclub. After hearing testimony from Alves, the victim, and witnesses, the court ordered him imprisoned without bail.
Alves, a father of two, was fired by Mexican club UNAM Pumas after his arrest at the start of the year. He claimed he had never met the woman in issue, but then changed his story and revealed the two had a mutual time. According to his lawyer, Alves’ first tale came about because he didn’t want his wife, Spanish model Joana Sanz, to find out about his adultery.
Alves is widely regarded as one of the finest full-backs of all time, having played for Seville, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Sao Paulo, and Barcelona, among others. He was the oldest player to represent Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar last December.
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