Brazilian football star has contract terminated amid sex assault case

Mexican team Pumas have parted ways with Dani Alves after he was detained by police in Barcelona

Dani Alves has had his contract with Mexican Liga MX team Pumas terminated after the Brazilian star was charged with sexual assault in Spain. Alves appeared in a Barcelona court on Friday following claims he assaulted a woman in a nightclub at the end of December.

“Club Universidad [Pumas] makes the decision to terminate the contract with Dani Alves with just cause,” said club president Leopoldo Silva, as reported by ESPN.

“This is an institution that promotes respect and the correct, dignified and professional behavior of its male and female players both on and off the field because they are role models in Mexico and throughout the world. We cannot permit any conduct that would damage our philosophy.”

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Alves, 39, is being held without bail in Spain – a country where he spent a large part of his glittering career at Barcelona. The defender is said to have presented himself to police on Friday to answer the case against him before being taken to the Ciutat de la Justicia.

Police have not given details of the case, although a 23-year-old woman is said to have alleged that Alves groped and raped her at Barcelona nightclub ‘Sutton’ on December 30. The footballer vehemently denies the allegations against him.

Alves is recognized as among the most decorated footballers of all time, amassing more than 40 titles at senior level. That included a golden spell at Barcelona between 2008 and 2016, when he helped the Catalans to three Champions League crowns and six La Liga titles.

At international level, Alves has earned 126 caps for Brazil and last featured for his country at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.