Spanish Court Holds Dani Alves In Custody Without Bail Over Sexual Assault

A Spanish court on Friday ordered Brazil defender Dani Alves to be held in custody without bail after he was arrested in Barcelona on allegations he sexually assaulted a woman.

A Barcelona judge took the step after questioning the 39-year-old player regarding "events that allegedly took place at a nightclub," the court said in a statement.

A source close to the dossier said the judge had taken the step – which was requested by public prosecutors – because the court considered there was a risk Alves would try to flee.

His club, Mexico's Pumas, announced hours later that it had sacked the player because of what it called "just cause."

Alves, one of football's most successful players, was taken into custody earlier on Friday after being summoned to a Barcelona police station and was then sent before the judge.

Catalonian police said they received a complaint on 2 January from a woman who accused Alves of sexual assault.

The charge of sexual assault in Spain can mean anything from unsolicited and unwanted sexual groping to rape.

While police declined to give details on the case, a source close to the investigation told the press that Alves is accused of rape.

The woman reiterated her accusation before the judge on Friday, the source added.

The alleged sexual assault took place at a popular Barcelona nightclub overnight on 30-31 December, according to Spanish media reports.

According to reports in Spain, Alves allegedly put his hands inside the underwear of a woman without her consent while she was dancing with friends and then followed her into a toilet.

She is said to have informed security staff in the club, who activated Barcelona city council's protocol against assaults and sexual harassment.