Five minutes to understand the Alves case, in pre-trial detention after being accused of rape

When it comes to talking about Dani Alves, it's no longer about football.

Accused of rape by a 23-year-old woman, the 39-year-old went from the straight corridors of the Mexican championship to a cell in a prison in the province of Barcelona.

The alleged facts date back to December 30, the footballer was remanded in custody on Friday.

What is the timeline of the case?

As early as January 2, a 23-year-old woman filed a complaint against Dani Alves.

According to her, the former Paris Saint-Germain player raped her at a Barcelona nightclub on December 30.

The case is publicized, the Brazilian denied the allegations on January 5 on Spanish television.

Last Friday, however, he was taken into custody before being transferred to the Barcelona court.

The magistrate of the court of instruction number 15 then ordered his pre-trial detention without bail until the trial.

The Mexican club Pumas fired the right-back a few hours later.

The freshly unemployed man had a difficult first night in the shade.

Little talkative, he ate little or nothing.

He would have relaxed during the weekend, but El País reported on Monday his transfer from Brians 1 prison to Brians 2, with a lower capacity in order to ensure "security and coexistence".

The latter would have been photographed by other detainees in his first detention center.

What facts are he accused of?

El País and El Periodico unveiled part of the complainant's testimony.

Accustomed to the "Sutton" nightclub, she would have been invited by Dani Alves and his Mexican friends for a few drinks.

She would have danced with the footballer, who would have allowed inappropriate gestures, whispering words in his ear that she would not have understood.

The athlete would have guided her to a door.

“I didn't know what was behind that door, I thought there would be another VIP area.

I resisted but he was much stronger than me, ”she would have assured, according to La Vanguardia.

According to CCTV footage, the alleged victim stayed in the toilet for fourteen minutes, two less than Alves.

A quarter of an hour in hell according to the complainant.

The ex-Barça player would have forced her to sit on him.

She first managed to avoid performing oral sex on him before being thrown to the ground and raped.

She left in tears and directly reported the rape to her friends and to the director of the establishment, who immediately warned the Catalan police.

What are the versions of Alves?

While the consistency of the horrifying account of the young woman and the medical and biological reports gave substance to the words of the alleged victim, Dani Alves stammered in his defense.

He first assured that he did not know the face or the name of the complainant.

Claim that he was forced to withdraw when the videos testifying to his passage in the toilets were shown to him in court.

Read alsoSexual assault: confronted with video evidence, Dani Alves would have changed his version of the facts

Faced with the accusation, he would have recognized a consensual sexual relationship, on the initiative of the young woman.

If he had not revealed anything earlier, it was to "protect" her, according to her words.

In the case, he lost the support of his friend Xavi.

First "in a state of shock", the former team-mate of the Brazilian backpedaled in order to "condemn all these types of acts, whether it was Dani or someone else who committed them".

What is he at risk?

Subject to Spanish justice, the footballer could spend four years behind bars for acts of sexual assault.

The sentence would increase to twelve years if rape is determined.

The Alves clan is organizing to release him from prison, but the appeal made by the almost 40-year-old will be dealt with by the court which sent him to pre-trial detention.

This imprisonment was decided in view of the risk of Alves fleeing to his country.

However, no extradition agreement exists between Brazil and Spain.

The native of Juazeiro could also appeal to the high court to be released, without however being able to leave Iberian territory.

While the athlete would be tempted to change lawyers, the alleged victim would have assured that she did not wish to be compensated financially.

The young woman would only expect one thing: that justice be done.