Pumas terminate Daniel Alves contract after arrest in Spain for rape

Daniel Alves’ club, Pumas, from Mexico, announced this Friday the termination of the right-back’s contract. The decision was communicated in the form of a statement (without the right to ask questions) by President Leopoldo Silva and comes after the Brazilian was sentenced to preventive detention in Spain for sexual assault.

– The Universidad Nacional club took the decision to terminate the employment contract with the player for just cause – said Leopoldo Silva: – With this decision, the club reiterates its commitment not to tolerate acts of any member of our institution, whoever it may be, that violate the university spirit and its values. The Universidad Nacional club is an institution that promotes respect and honest, dignified and professional behavior by its players on and off the pitch.

Earlier, Liga BBVA MX, responsible for the first division of the Mexican Football Championship, had already ruled on the case. In an official note, he stated that he would define the Brazilian’s situation together with Pumas as soon as he became aware of the lateral’s legal situation.

Daniel Alves was a Pumas player since July. His last match was on the 8th, when the Spanish Justice had already opened a procedure to investigate him. He played for 45 minutes in the 2-1 victory over Juárez, in the Clausura tournament.

understand the case

The night of the alleged crime

• According to the victim, who has not been identified, she was dancing at the Sutton nightclub in Barcelona with friends on December 30 when Daniel Alves touched her under her underwear without consent. The Brazilian still took her to the bathroom and forced her to have sex with him.
• The woman said she told her friends what had happened and sought out the establishment’s security team, which initiated the protocol for cases of sexual assault.
• The police were called to the scene, but when they got there the player had already left.

After the complaint

• Days later, on January 2, 2023, the victim went to the Catalan police to file a complaint for sexual harassment. Since then, she has been receiving support from the department in charge of this type of crime, and the complaint is judicialized and under investigation, as explained by the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC).
• The full-back returned to Mexico, where he returned to Pumas and has already entered the field in the 2023 season.

Player’s defense

• Daniel Alves denies the accusations: “I would like to deny everything. Yes, I was in that place, with more people, enjoying myself. And anyone who knows me knows that I love to dance. I was dancing and enjoying myself without invading other people’s space. I don’t know who is that lady. I have never invaded a space. How am I going to do that with a woman or a girl? No, by God,” he told Spanish TV Antena 3.

deposition and detention

• The Brazilian, who was in Mexico, returned this week to the capital of Catalonia to testify spontaneously this Friday.

• According to El País, he was detained after giving his statement and left in a police car.
• At the same time, the Public Ministry made a request for preventive detention without the right to bail, which was accepted by the Justice.