On Tuesday, a Spanish court dismissed Dani Alves’ plea to be released on bail, keeping the Brazilian footballer under investigation for a purported sexual assault charge.
The court ruled that Alves was a flight risk and must remain imprisoned during the investigation. A trial has not been set.
Alves was provisionally detained in January after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a nightclub on Dec. 30. He has denied wrongdoing and said sex with the accuser was consensual.
After analyzing the initial probe by authorities and hearing testimony from Alves, the alleged victim, and witnesses, a judge ordered him to be jailed without bail.
“Daniel Alves remains as innocent as he was before this ruling,” his defense team said. “His desire to leave Spain and elude the process did not, and does not, exist.”
Alves’ lawyers filed the appeal saying the Brazilian agreed to turn in his passport and wear a tracking device if freed. Alves would also report to the court and authorities as often as required, including daily, and would not go within 500 meters of the accuser’s home or workplace.
But the court ruled that those measures would not be enough to keep the player from potentially trying to escape considering he faces several years in prison if found guilty. It also said there was considerable evidence that a crime might have been committed and that Alves’ wealth could make it easier for him to try to flee regardless of the amount of bail.
“Nothing would stop Mr. Alves from leaving Spain by air, sea, or even land without documentation and reaching his country of origin, where he could stay knowing that he would not be delivered to Spain despite international arrest warrants or extradition orders,” the court said.
Brazil does not extradite its citizens when they are sentenced in other countries. Another former Brazil player, Robinho, had a nine-year sentence for the rape of a young woman in Italy upheld by a top Italian court last year, but he remains free in Brazil.
The 39-year-old Alves can appeal again while the court decides whether to set up a trial.
Under Spain’s sexual consent law passed last year, sexual assault involves various crimes, from online abuse and groping to rape, each with different possible punishments. A case of rape can receive a maximum sentence of 15 years.
Alves won 42 football titles, including three Champions Leagues with Barcelona and two Copa Americas with Brazil. He played in his third World Cup last year in Qatar.
