Spanish authorities detained Brazilian soccer star Dani Alves on Friday.
TMZ Sports reports Alves is “being held on sexual abuse charges.”
Witnesses accuse the 39-year-old Alves of “inappropriately touching a woman under her clothes without her consent in a Barcelona nightclub on New Year’s Eve, TMZ Sports reported.
The outlet also noted that in Spain, sexual assault can “cover anything from groping to rape.”
The woman filed a report with the police, who “took witness statements” after they were “made aware of the situation.”
Alves, who plays club soccer with UNAM in LigaMX, denied even knowing the alleged victim.
“I would like to deny everything first,” Alves said. “I was there, in that location, with more people, having a good time. Everybody knows that I love to dance. Having a good time, but without invading the space of others.”
“I’m very sorry, but I don’t know who that young lady is. I don’t know who she is. I’ve never seen her in my life.”
TMZ reported that state prosecutors “are asking that Alves be jailed without bail.”
Alves will appear in front of a judge at a later date. The judge will reportedly determine what happens next in the case.
