Dani Alves, a former Barcelona and Brazil full-back, has been denied bail yet again as the investigation into a sexual assault claim continues.
The 40-year-old was detained in January 2023 for allegedly sexually assaulting a lady on December 30, 2022, in a Barcelona nightclub. Alves’ contract with Mexican club Pumas UNAM was cancelled as a result of the charge, and he was jailed without bond.
The Barcelona court have denied repeated requests from the Brazilian’s defence that he be freed on bail while the investigation continues. One such refusal came as early as February, with the most recent coming last month.
It was ruled again on Monday that Alves will remain in jail, after review of footage put forward by the defence showing alleged flirting with the accuser. However, this evidence was dismissed, after the court ruled that flirting should not “in any way justify an eventual sexual assault”.
Alves remains in custody and has reportedly been declared a flight risk, despite the defence being willing to give up the his passports and agree to a tracking device.
Claims that he and his family had plans to live in Barcelona were dismissed by the court, after it was found that his children were only registered as residents a few weeks ago.
Alves continues to deny any wrongdoing, claiming that the sex with the woman in question was consensual. A trial date has still not been set.
