Alves to face sexual assault trial: Judge to indict ex Barca defender this week

A judge has decided to indict Dani Alves following an investigation into sexual assault accusations against the Brazilian footballer, a Spanish court has said.

The judge found evidence of wrongdoing by Alves, in custody since January on accusations he sexually assaulted a woman at Barcelona club in December.

Alves will be formally indicted after being informed of the decision in court on Wednesday.

Prosecutors will then specify the charges, and a trial date will be set for later this year or early in 2024.

The former Barcelona defender has denied wrongdoing and said that sex with the accuser was consensual, though admitted to having cheated on his wife.

Alves' lawyers did not immediately respond a request for comment.

He is expected to remain in jail awaiting the trial, and bail requests have been denied because he is considered a flight risk.

The player had offered to turn in his passports and wear a tracking device.

A judge ordered Alves to be jailed after analysing the initial probe by authorities and hearing testimony from the alleged victim, witnesses, and Alves.

Alves' lawyers unsuccessfully tried to discredit testimony by the alleged victim and other witnesses by presenting security camera footage showing that Alves and the victim were flirting with each other at the nightclub.

The court had said that the flirting should not 'in any way justify an eventual sexual assault'.

Under Spain's sexual consent law passed last year, sexual assault takes in a wide array of crimes from online abuse and groping to rape, each with different possible punishments.

A case of rape can carry a maximum sentence of 15 years.

Alves said previously: 'It will be proven that I am not guilty and it was a consensual relationship.

'It would never cross