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Brazilian soccer player Dani Alves (L) sits on the dock during his trial for alleged sexual assault at Barcelona's Court in Barcelona, Spain, February 5, 2024.

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Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/12000168.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Brazilian soccer player Dani Alves (L) sits on the dock during his trial for alleged sexual assault at Barcelona&#x27;s Court in Barcelona, Spain, February 5, 2024. <em>Alberto Estevez, EPA-EFE.</em></span></span></span></div><p>BARCELONA, Spain -- Former Brazilian football star Dani Alves went on trial Monday in Barcelona accused of raping a woman in a local nightclub.</p><div><br/></div><p>Prosecutors are demanding a nine-year prison sentence, followed by 10 years of conditional liberty. They are also recommending he pay 150,000 euros ($162,000) in compensation to the woman.</p><div><br/></div><p>The 40-year-old former Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain defender was driven to court in a police van from a prison near the Catalan capital, where he has been held on remand since his arrest in January 2023.</p><div><br/></div><p>The trial got underway at around 10:30 am (0930 GMT).</p><div><br/></div><p>Dozens of journalists were on hand outside the court to cover the start of the trial, which is expected to finish on Wednesday with a verdict likely to come several weeks later.</p><div><br/></div><p>Alves was arrested after a young woman accused him of raping her in a bathroom of the VIP area of the upmarket Sutton nightclub in Barcelona in the early hours of December 31, 2022.</p><div><br/></div><p>The three-time Champions League winner has said they had consensual sex after initially denying knowing the woman during a television interview.</p><div><br/></div><p>According to the prosecution, Alves -- who was on holiday in Barcelona at the time after playing for Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar -- offered champagne to the young woman and her friend.</p><div><br/></div><p>Alves then allegedly invited the woman to enter a small enclosure at the nightclub, which she says she did not know was a lavatory.</p><div><br/></div><p>Once inside the footballer showed a &quot;violent attitude&quot; and forced her to have intercourse despite her resistance, prosecutors say according to the indictment.</p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;The victim asked him several times to let her go, saying she wanted to leave but the defendant prevented her from doing so,&quot; according to the indictment, which describes a &quot;situation of anguish and terror&quot; for the young woman.</p><div><br/></div><p>The woman, who received medical treatment after leaving the nightclub, is being treated for post-traumatic stress, according to prosecutors.</p><div><br/></div><p>Alves&#x27; legal team lost a battle to keep the trial behind closed doors, though media and the public will not be present when the accuser takes the stand. Her identity has never been revealed.</p><div><br/></div><p>Alves has changed his story several times as the evidence authorities have against him has emerged.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>- &#x27;Clear conscience&#x27; -</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>He told Barcelona-based daily La Vanguardia in June that he initially lied about knowing his accuser because he was afraid his wife would leave him if he admitted being with another woman.</p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;I have a really clear conscience regarding what happened that night in the bathroom of the VIP area of the Sutton nightclub,&quot; he told the newspaper.</p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;What happened and what didn&#x27;t happen. And what didn&#x27;t happen is that I forced this woman to do anything that we did.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><p>His mother Lucia Alves -- who was at the Barcelona court on Monday -- sparked controversy and risks facing prosecution herself after she named and pictured her son&#x27;s accuser in a social media post in January which she has since removed.</p><div><br/></div><p>Spanish courts have repeatedly rejected requests that Alves be released pending his trial, citing a flight risk to Brazil, which generally does not extradite its citizens.</p><div><br/></div><p>Alves is widely considered as one of the greatest full-backs of all time.</p><div><br/></div><p>He won 42 trophies during a highly successful career, his three Champions Leagues coming with Barcelona and two Copa Americas with Brazil.</p><div><br/></div><p>The height of his career came when playing for Barcelona between 2008 and 2016, where he won 23 trophies.</p><div><br/></div><p>Alves, who also played for Sevilla, was at the time of his arrest with Mexican club Pumas UNAM, who sacked him soon afterwards.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Prosecutors are demanding a nine-year prison sentence, followed by 10 years of conditional liberty for former Brazilian football star Dani Alves.</p>

Prosecutors are demanding a nine-year prison sentence, followed by 10 years of conditional liberty for former Brazilian football star Dani Alves.

Former star footballer Dani Alves's rape trial begins

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Former star footballer Dani Alves's rape trial begins

Agence France-Presse,

Rosa Sulleiro

Published Feb 05, 2024 06:46 PM PHT

Read More:

football

Dani Alves

Dani Alves rape trial

Barcelona

violence against women

Brazil

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