<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">A Spanish court on Friday ordered Brazil defender Dani Alves to be held in custody without bail after he was arrested in Barcelona on allegations he sexually assaulted a woman.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A Barcelona judge took the step after questioning the 39-year-old player regarding "events that allegedly took place at a nightclub," the court said in a statement.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">A source close to the dossier said the judge had taken the step -- which was requested by public prosecutors -- because the court considered there was a risk Alves would try to flee.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">His club, Mexico's Pumas, announced hours later that it had sacked the player because of what it called "just cause."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alves, one of football's most successful players, was taken into custody earlier on Friday after being summoned to a Barcelona police station and was then sent before the judge.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Catalonian police said they received a complaint on January 2 from a woman who accused Alves of sexual assault.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The charge of sexual assault in Spain can mean anything from unsolicited and unwanted sexual groping to rape.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While police declined to give details on the case, a source close to the investigation told AFP that Alves is accused of rape.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The woman reiterated her accusation before the judge on Friday, the source added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The alleged sexual assault took place at a popular Barcelona nightclub overnight December 30-31, according to Spanish media reports.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Daily newspaper ABC said Alves allegedly put his hands inside the underwear of a woman without her consent while she was dancing with friends and then followed her into a toilet.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She is said to have informed security staff in the club, who activated Barcelona city council's protocol against assaults and sexual harassment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- 'Nothing wrong happened' -</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A Barcelona court said earlier this month it had opened a probe "into an alleged crime of sexual assault as a result of a complaint filed by a woman against a footballer".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alves has confirmed he was at the nightclub at the time but has denied any wrongdoing, telling private Spanish channel Antena 3 earlier this month that he has "never seen" the woman before.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I was there, at that place, with more people having fun. Everybody knows I love to dance. Having a good time but without invading the space of others," the former Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain player added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">His wife, Spanish model Joana Sanz, told Antena 3 in an interview on January 9 that her husband had gone "out to dinner with friends, to disconnect a bit" on December 30.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"He went out to dance and try to enjoy music as he likes, period. Nothing wrong happened...I know how respectful he is," she added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alves was in Barcelona on holiday following his participation at the World Cup with Brazil in Qatar.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He was the oldest player to represent Brazil at the men's World Cup.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In a phenomenally successful career, Alves made 408 appearances for Barcelona, with 391 of those coming in his first spell from 2008-2016.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During that initial stint, he won six La Liga titles, three Champions League crowns and four Copa del Rey trophies.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alves joined PSG in July 2017 on a free transfer after leaving Juventus and spent two years at the Qatari-owned French giants.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He was signed by the Pumas last July after leaving Barcelona for a second time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Pumas, who are linked to the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said Friday that they had terminated Alves' contract.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"The club reiterates its commitment not to tolerate acts by any member of our institution, whoever they may be, that go against the university spirit and its values," Pumas boss Leopoldo Silva told reporters. AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>