Barcelona legend Dani Alves is facing potentially severe consequences after being accused of rape, including a potential nine-year prison sentence and a £130,000 payment to the individual making the accusation.
The 40-year-old former Brazil and Barcelona defender has been in police custody since his arrest in January.
The allegations, initially described as “sexual assault,” were detailed in a seven-page pre-trial indictment released in Spain.
Alves, who has admitted to engaging in consensual sexual activity with the accuser in a private bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub last December, now faces more serious charges.
Speaking from prison, Alves has expressed remorse and publicly apologized to his wife, Joana Sanz, for his unfaithfulness.
He stated, “The only person I have to ask for forgiveness is my wife, Joana Sanz. I have already done that here in prison, but I have to do it publicly.”
The trial date is still pending, and the footballer, a father of two, awaits the final outcome of the legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, Alves became the oldest player to represent Brazil in the World Cup last year in Qatar.
