Nine-Year Prison Sentence Sought for Spanish Footballer

Spanish prosecutors are seeking a nine-year prison sentence for footballer Álvaro Aguado, a former Espanyol player, who stands accused of sexually assaulting a club employee. The alleged incident occurred in a Barcelona nightclub restroom in June 2024.

In addition to imprisonment, the prosecution is demanding that the footballer pay €65,000 in compensation to the victim for moral damages and psychological trauma resulting from the assault.

The 29-year-old Aguado has been a free agent since last summer, following his departure from Espanyol.

According to the indictment, accessed by the EFE agency, Aguado allegedly committed the assault in the early hours of June 24 in the men's restroom of the Opium nightclub in Barcelona. This reportedly happened despite the victim, who was in a "state of shock," pleading with him to "stop" and stating that she "did not want to have sexual relations."

Ultimately, as the prosecutor claims in the indictment, the defendant, who is currently out on bail for this case, "desisted from his actions, got dressed again, and told the woman: 'You don't know me, nor do I know you.'"

According to the preliminary findings of the prosecution, around 5:00 AM on June 24, the accused and the victim were in a reserved area of the Opium nightclub in Barcelona, celebrating Espanyol's promotion to La Liga, where they had been dancing together.

After dancing, the footballer reportedly took the woman's hand. She was "temporarily dazed and affected" by alcohol consumption, but not unconscious. He led her out of the area and towards the stairs of the venue's parking lot, according to the prosecution. After a club employee prevented them from using those stairs, the defendant allegedly took her to the men's restroom, where he committed a sexual assault without using a condom, involving vaginal and oral penetration.

As a result of this sexual assault, the woman suffered psychological trauma. For these acts, the prosecutor has charged Aguado with a crime of sexual assault with oral and vaginal penetration, seeking a nine-year prison sentence and a supervision order for a period of 10 years after serving the custodial sentence.

Furthermore, the prosecution requests a restraining order, prohibiting him from approaching within 1000 meters of the victim or communicating with her in any way for a period of 8 years after serving the sentence.

Regarding civil liability, the prosecution is demanding €55,000 in compensation for moral damages and an additional €10,000 for the psychological trauma suffered by the victim.