Former Barcelona and Brazil star Dani Alves is on trial for allegedly raping a woman in a nightclub on New Year’s Eve 2022.
The 40-year-old footballer, who has won multiple trophies with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted.
The trial, which began on Monday in a Barcelona court, is expected to last until Wednesday. More than 30 witnesses, including Alves’s estranged wife, are due to testify.
The woman, whose identity is protected by the court, claims that he lured her into a VIP bathroom and sexually assaulted her. She says he slapped her, insulted her, and forced her to have sex with him.
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Dani initially denied meeting the woman, but later admitted to having consensual sex with her. He has been in pre-trial custody for more than a year, as the court considered him a flight risk.
His mother, Lucia Alves, who accompanied him to the court, could also face prosecution for naming the woman on social media, violating a court order.
The public prosecutor is seeking a nine-year jail term for Alves, while the woman’s lawyer is asking for 12 years. Alves is also expected to pay 150,000 euros ($170,000) in damages to the woman if found guilty.
Alves is one of the most decorated players in football history, having won six La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies, and two Copa America titles. He played for Barcelona from 2008 to 2016, and then for Juventus, PSG, and Sao Paulo. His last club, Pumas UNAM in Mexico, terminated his contract in January 2023 after his arrest.
The trial has attracted widespread media attention in Spain and Brazil, as well as among football fans around the world. Alves is scheduled to testify on Wednesday, the final day of the trial.