Dani Alves faces threat of nine-year jail term over rape accusation

Barcelona legend Dani Alves has been threatened with a nine-year jail term and a £130,000 payment to his accuser, after rape accusation.

The 40-year-old former Brazil and Barcelona defender has been in police custody since his January arrest.

The accusations, initially referred to as “sexual assault,” were detailed in a seven-page pre-trial indictment released in Spain.

Alves who admitted to a consensual sex with his accuser in a Barcelona nightclub’s private toilet last December, now faces more severe charges.

In an interview from prison, Alves expressed remorse and publicly apologized to his wife, Joana Sanz, for his infidelity.

He stated, “The only person I have to ask for forgiveness is my wife, Joana Sanz. I have already done that here in prison, but I have to do it publicly.”

The trial date is still pending, and the footballer, a father of two, awaits the final outcome of the legal proceedings.

Meanwhile, Alves became the oldest player to represent Brazil in the World Cup last year in Qatar.