Brazilian soccer player Dani Alves has been detained in Spain on charges of sexually assaulting a woman in Barcelona.
The assault allegedly took place on Dec. 31 at a nightclub in Barcelona, police told The Associated Press.
Alves was detained by police in Barcelona, a spokesperson for Catalan’s regional police told CNN. Alves was taken by police car from the station to a court in Barcelona’s “City of Justice,” where he was to appear in front of a judge later Friday, the spokesperson said.
A spokesman told Reuters that Alves, one of the most decorated football players of his generation, “vehemently denies” all of the allegations.
According to CNN, the Catalonia Higher Court of Justice confirmed on Jan. 10 that Alves was under investigation for the alleged assault.
Alves, 39, currently plays for Mexico’s Club Universidad Nacional.
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