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    If Man City are guilty of breaking Premier League financial rules they should be kicked out – but don’t hold your breath

    YOU’D think that to be accused of cheating would be the worst that could happen in sport.And that you would be kicked out and treated as a pariah.
    The Premier League has charged Manchester City with 115 counts of breaking the league’s financial rulesCredit: Reuters
    Man City manager Pep GuardiolaCredit: PA
    Well, let’s see what happens to Manchester City.
    After a long and painstaking investigation, the Premier League has charged City with 115 counts of breaking the league’s financial rules.
    In short, the Premier League is accusing Manchester City of false accounting.
    Of overvaluing the amounts of money they got in from sponsorship deals and other legitimate sources of revenue.
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    And undervaluing their costs.
    In other words lying, over a long period of time, about how much money they had and how much they were spending.
    This is called cheating.
    All the teams in the Premier League — and in the lower divisions — must abide by Financial Fair Play rules.
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    This governs what percentage of their income can be spent on wages and transfers and so on.
    It ensures the books are balanced.
    And its purpose is to stop clubs going out of business by spending beyond their means.
    In short, if you haven’t got a pot to p**s in, you can’t buy Kylian Mbappe.
    It’s pretty straightforward.
    But it’s not straightforward the way Manchester City have been doing it, allegedly.
    And if they’ve not been honest about their income and expenditure, it means they have been given a huge advantage over clubs that have abided by the rules.
    There is a suggestion Manchester City could be kicked out of the league.
    Well, that would be a start, if they’re guilty. But don’t hold your breath.
    CLEAR OFF
    Because no matter how seriously the authorities say they take Financial Fair Play, the truth is that the big clubs always seem to get away with it.
    Already, Manchester City’s bosses are marshalling a whole army of expensive lawyers.
    They say they will fight the Premier League every step of the way.
    These legal battles could go on for years and years.
    They will probably still be in court when Alf-Inge Haaland is collecting his free bus pass.
    In the meantime, City will carry on just the way they’ve always carried on.
    This, surely, is wrong. If City disagree with the Premier League’s rules, they are perfectly at liberty to clear off out of the league.
    But while in it, they must abide.
    That means, at the least, a complete embargo on transfers until this business is sorted out.
    That should concentrate the minds a little at the Etihad Stadium.
    I don’t say any of this because I hate Manchester City.
    I mean, obviously I do hate Manchester City, but no more than I hate, say, Arsenal or Leeds United.
    I’m a Millwall fan. We hate everyone.
    No, I say it because for too long now, under the league’s rules, teams that do the right thing are penalised, and somehow the big guns always wriggle out of accusations of rule-breaking.
    Which makes a mockery of the whole thing.
    The Premier League should act tough with City.
    No spending at all until the charges are heard in court, which they will be.
    And if the verdict is guilty as charged? Out of the league.
    Well done, Your Worship
    ATTENDANCES at Church of England services continue to plummet.
    More and more people who would call themselves Christian find the Church of England an utter irrelevance.
    But at last the bishops are doing something about it.
    Yes, they are reviewing the Bible for its gender-biased language.
    Well done, Your Worship.
    That’ll bring them flooding back.

    AID BY ENEMY
    THE footage of those earthquakes on the Syria/Turkey border is heart-breaking.
    As if that area hasn’t been through enough turmoil and misery . . . 
    Israel has so far dispatched 380 men from the Israel Defense Forces to help after the Turkey/Syria earthquakeCredit: Reuters
    The first country to respond to the disaster, by sending hundreds of expert helpers?
    Israel, which has so far dispatched 380 men from the Israel Defense Forces.
    Never mind that the Turkish government hates Israel, and Syria is still at war with it.
    DID POLLY HIT A NERVE BY WADING INTO WATERS?
    POLLY SAMSON, the wife of Pink Floyd star David Gilmour, has tweeted her observations on the band’s former member Roger Waters.
    She said: “You are anti-Semitic to your rotten core.
    Dave Gilmour’s wife Polly Samson has tweeted her observations on the band’s former member Roger WatersCredit: Getty
    Polly said of Roger: ‘You are anti-Semitic to your rotten core’Credit: Getty
    “Also a Putin apologist and a lying, thieving, hypocritical, tax-avoiding, lip-synching,misogynistic, sick-with-envy, megalomaniac.
    “Enough of your nonsense.”
    Mr Waters, of course, begs to differ and denies all charges.
    Maybe Polly hit a nerve. Incidentally, with the possible exceptions of U2 and Coldplay, has there ever been a more overrated band in the history of rock music than Pink Floyd?
    WELSH SHOW SENSE
    HUGE respect to the Welsh rugby fans.
    Their team may be utterly useless, but the supporters did their country proud.
    The Welsh Rugby Union has banned the song Delilah but Tom Jones is going to sing itCredit: WNS
    The Welsh Rugby Union people banned the song Delilah.
    Because it is about a bloke who kills his lover. Can’t have songs about that.
    But the Welsh fans belted it out in a magnificent show of defiance.
    And now Tom Jones is going to sing Delilah for the first time in 20 years at a show in Wales.
    That’s the way to treat these stupid, po-faced author-ities. Iechyd da!
    Rishi’s reshuffle
    THEY have been moving the deck-chairs around on the Titanic again.
    This is Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet reshuffle.
    OK, I like the idea of Michelle Donelan heading a beefed-up Science and Technology department.
    It’s good to see the excellent Kemi Bad-enoch promoted.
    But for as long as Jeremy Hunt is the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Tories are going to lose the next election.
    Heavily.

    SAM IS RECIPE FOR JOY
    APPARENTLY, 42 per cent of us can’t remember the last time we laughed.
    What a depressing statistic. I have no such problem.
    Sam Smith’s latest music video made Rod laughCredit: YOUTUBE
    I laughed like a drain when I saw Sam Smith’s last video.
    I also laughed when I saw a gobby, annoying child in a restaurant fall over flat on his face.
    And I laugh every time Nicola Sturgeon opens her mouth.
    It may be a dry, bitter, mirthless cackle – but it’s still a laugh, isn’t it?
    We all need to rediscover the joy of revelling in other people’s misfortunes.
    Put the smile back on to the face of Great Britain.
    ACTION IF IZZY WINS
    HEROINE of the week is South London mum Izzy Montague.
    She is suing the school attended by her young son because she claims they forced him to go on a LGBT march.
    The kid was FOUR YEARS OLD.
    The headteacher of Heavers Farm Primary also banned Izzy from visiting the school, saying that the staff did not feel safe when she was there.
    Scores of parents objected to their kids being taken on the march, incidentally.
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    That’s because they think children not much older than toddlers were being force-fed propaganda.
    If Izzy wins her battle, the head of the school should be sacked.  More

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    Premier League’s case against Man City over 115 FFP breaches could take FOUR YEARS for verdict, says top sports lawyer

    THE Premier League’s case against Manchester City’s could take as many as FOUR YEARS to resolve, according to top sports lawyers. Man City were charged with 115 breaches of financial rules earlier this week in bombshell accusations launched by the Premier League.
    It’s been a long week for City boss Pep GuardiolaCredit: Getty
    The outcomes could be severe for Pep Guardiola’s side with the stripping of titles and points deductions potential punishments on the table.
    Whatever happens, respected sports lawyer Nick De Marco KC said it could take quite a while to play out.
    De Marco, who has represented Mike Ashley at Newcastle and been involved in Derby and Sheffield Wednesday’s financial fair play cases, believes the whole situation could drag out on until 2027.
    He added to The Times: “I worked on the Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday financial fair play cases, both of which involved two charges over about two years and took about a year and a half from charges to the end.
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    “I would not be surprised if these proceedings took considerably longer given there are apparently 115 charges covering a period of 14 years.”
    Meanwhile, Stefan Borson, chief executive and general counsel of Watchstone Group plc, told the same publication he also doubted the case would be speedily addressed.
    He said: “These allegations appear to be about as serious as they get for a company and its board of directors.
    “The seriousness of these allegations is likely to mean it will be a long time before the disciplinary process can be completed — I would not be at all surprised if it took in excess of two years.”
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    City will have to defend themselves against numerous charges
    City are under investigation for alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018, a period in which the club won the league three times.
    They have repeatedly denied the charges and said they were “surprised” by the Premier League’s findings in a brief statement.
    The club has hired Boris Johnson’s Partygate lawyer as they look to beef up their legal team for what will likely be an extraordinary battle in the courts.
    Following a long and difficult week off the pitch, Man City host Unai Emery’s Aston Villa on Sunday. More

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    Dani Alves ‘given VIP treatment behind bars’ as lags claim ‘rapist’ star has lunch in private area & gets daily visits

    FOOTBALL ace Dani Alves is allegedly receiving special treatment in prison after being arrested over a nightclub rape charge.The former Brazil and Barcelona defender has lunch in a private room and is allowed daily visits, claims Spanish TV station TVE.
    Dani Alves is reported to be receiving special treatment in prison
    He is being held in Brians 2 Prison in Catalonia, Spain after being accused of rapeCredit: Solarpix
    Another inmate’s relative, Valeria, told the channel: “He is really well there. He has new friends.
    “Yesterday his wife went to visit him in the afternoon, apparently she hadn’t requested the visit but she managed to speak with him because she left prison really late.
    “The privileges they are giving him are superior to what he deserves”.
    The Brazilian international Alves was accused of sexual assault in a nightclub in Barcelona on December 30.
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    He is being held at the Brians 2 Prison in Catalonia, Spain, where he has reportedly made his prison football debut.
    Alves is also allegedly allowed to have lunch in private areas as well as have access to daily family visits due to his profile.
    Valeria added: “I can only see my family member once every 15 days. Dani Alves has had lots of visits, I think one visit everyday.
    “My husband is not Dani Alves, so he has no privilege.
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    “Usually, prisoners have to ask for a doctor’s appointment and wait until the next day, however, Dani Alves doesn’t have to wait.
    “All prisoners are saying that he has a lot of privileges in prison”.
    Another prisoner’s relative, who was not named, added: “He sometimes goes to the canteen, but he doesn’t have lunch.
    “He gets what he wants by signing an autograph.
    “He goes to the garden always with a prison officer, he’s never alone.
    “Dani plays football and has made a lot of friends, my husband has a more strict timetable than him”.
    Reports from Spain’s national daily sport newspaper, Marca, state that the football ace can go outside alone and is accompanied to the courtyard by four officials who keep him separated from other inmates.
    One person who visited another inmate at the prison said: “From what heard when I came to visit, Dani Alves is accompanied to the courtyard by four officials who have him escorted and who keep him apart, alone”
    “I don’t know if he communicates with the other prisoners, but for the moment what I know is that he is apart because it is an exclusive case, as he is a well-known sportsman”.
    The former Barcelona and Sevilla player has been able to see his wife Joana Sanz, following her visit to the prison.
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    This comes after we reported how Joana has vowed to stick by the Brazil star just days after she had demanded a divorce following the rape allegations.
    Reports in Spain claimed that Alves had initially refused to see Joana in jail, but she has rubbished some of the claims and stayed silent on the divorce issue.
    Joana Sanz was seen leaving the prison after spending 50 minutes there
    Joana was reportedly allowed to visit Alves without making a request
    Alves has reportedly made his prison football debut at Brians 2 PrisonCredit: Solarpix More

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    Major update after Everton footballer arrested on suspicion of child sex offences

    PROSECUTORS are now probing the case of an Everton star arrested on suspicion of child sex offences.The Premier League player, who can’t legally be named, was held by police in July 2021 before being released on bail.
    The footballer was held on suspicion of child sex offencesCredit: Getty
    The Crown Prosecution Service has now confirmed a file of evidence has been passed to them by police, the Mirror reports.
    A spokesperson said: “We received a file of evidence from Greater Manchester Police on 31 January 2023 following an investigation into allegations of multiple sexual offences.
    “We are considering this material in line with our legal test.”
    The CPS will now examine the evidence to decide whether to charge or not to charge the player.
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    Police were scrambled to the star’s home in July 2021 where “several items were seized”.
    The international player was suspended from Everton while police investigated the allegations.
    A statement from the team at the time said: “Everton can confirm it has suspended a player pending a police investigation.
    “The Club will continue to support the authorities with their inquiries and will not be making any further statement at this time.”
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    The alleged offences have been described as “very serious” with a probe led by Greater Manchester Police’s Major Incident Team.
    In a statement, the force said: “Officers arrested a man on Friday 16 July 2021 on suspicion of child sex offences.
    “He is on police bail pending further enquiries.”
    Everton said a player had been suspended pending a police probe More

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    Premier League rivals demand Man City be RELEGATED if found guilty of staggering 100-plus FFP rule breaches

    PREMIER LEAGUE rivals are demanding Manchester City are RELEGATED if found guilty of a staggering 100-plus breaches of FFP rules.The Etihad outfit were left stunned as top-flight chiefs dumped the unprecedented charges after a four-year probe into the club’s financial affairs.
    Premier League club chiefs are demanding that Manchester City get relegated if they are found guiltyCredit: Reuters

    City were accused of a series of financial dodges between 2009 and 2018 including:
    Hiding the true source of the club’s funding
    Declaring only part of salaries to players and former boss Roberto Mancini
    Breaching Uefa AND Premier League financial fair play regulations.
    Deliberately obstructing the Prem investigation since it was opened in December 2018, including during this season.

    And while angry City insisted they would be “vindicated”, Premier League clubs are demanding blood and a swift verdict AND punishment before the end of the season.
    One club chief said: “If these charges are proven there must be proper punishment – and the only fitting one is for them to be relegated.
    “We’re talking about a decade of alleged abuses and want the Premier League to do the right thing.”
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    The decision to bring 30 charges detailing 115 alleged breaches of regulations – and signed off by the League board including chief executive Richard Masters – came out of the sky blue for City chiefs who only knew it was coming in a telephone call to chief exec Ferran Soriano from Prem bosses, timed to coincide with the public release.
    Of the allegations, the biggest group accused City of failing to provide “accurate financial information” giving a “true and fair” picture of the club’s financial picture between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.

    City are accused of obscuring the true source of millions of pounds in revenues.
    That money, claimed to have been legitimate sponsorship earnings from Gulf-based companies including Etihad Airways and investment giants Aabar is alleged to have actually directly from the club’s owners, Abu Dhabi United Group.
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    Manchester City’s financial charges
    City are also accused of effectively paying Mancini through two separate accounts – the official £1.45m salary through the club’s books and the remaining £1.75m via Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi club, Al Jazira.
    Another set of charges allege City failed to “include full details of player remuneration” – wages – for a six-year period starting in 2010-11.
    City are then accused of breaching League rules by flouting Uefa Financial Fair Play regulations – the allegations which initially brought the club a two-year Champions league ban in 2020 before that verdict was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
    Premier League legal beaks also laid charges that City had broken the League’s “profitability and sustainability” regulations for three seasons up to 2017-18.
    And perhaps most serious were the final set of charges, claiming that the club had “failed to cooperate” from “December 2018 to date” with the Prem investigation, including by not “providing documents and information in the utmost good faith”.

    Furious City hit back with a hard-hitting response in which the club said it was “surprised” by the charges, “particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials the Premier League has been provided with.
    City added: “The club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.
    “As such, we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”
    Privately, City believe the Premier League was bounced into the decision by the looming publication of the Government’s White paper which will set up an Independent Regulator for football.
    The club feels League chiefs briefed out the announcement to put them on the back foot before the mid-morning ambush but remains adamant the process will end with City entirely in the clear.
    City have until February 23 to respond to the charges, by which time leading KC Murray Rosen, head of the League’s Judicial Panel, will have confirmed the make-up of the three-member commission, which will be headed by a senior lawyer.
    Read More on The Sun
    While the Premier League could not give a timescale last night, that could allow a hearing by as early as next month, although both parties would be entitled to ask for an appeal panel to hear the evidence again if the verdict went against them.
    But rival clubs are pushing for a rapid “trial” as they want any punishment in place for this season rather than City being allowed to drag the matter out. More

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    Exeter City star Jevani Brown, 28, charged with assaulting a woman as club suspends him from play

    EXETER City striker Jevani Brown has been suspended from play after he was charged with assaulting a woman.Brown, 28, is now set to face court after he was charged with assault by beating.
    Jevani Brown has been dropped after he was charged with assaulting a womanCredit: Rex
    The club’s top striker has now been dropped by Exeter.
    Police were called out to the Queens Street area of Exeter city centre during the early hours of February 2, following reports that a woman had been assaulted.
    Officers then made an arrest. Brown, who has played for Jamaica, has now been charged with assault by beating.
    The club shared a statement on social media which read: “Exeter City Football Club is aware of the charge made against Jevani Brown.
    “As this is a legal matter, we are unable to make any comment until legal proceedings have been concluded.
    “He will not be selected to play during this period.”
    A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Police were called to Queens Street, Exeter in the early hours of Thursday 2 February following reports of a female having been assaulted in the area.
    “Officers attended and an arrest was made.
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    “Police have since charge a man in connection to this incident.Jevani Jason Brown, aged 28, originally from Luton but currently residing in Exeter, has been charged with assault by beating.
    “He has been released on bail and is due to appear before Exeter Magistrates Court on Thursday 16 February.”
    Exeter City have dropped striker Jevani BrownCredit: Alamy More

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    What financial breaches have Man City been charged with, could they be relegated, when will we know the outcome?

    MANCHESTER CITY are in trouble. But what are the allegations against them?The Premier League have accused the club of multiple breaches of financial and other rules over a nine-year period from 2009-2018 and then failing to cooperate with a League probe for the past FOUR years.
    Manchester City have been accused of multiple financial breachesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    In total there are 32 separate charges adding up to 113 alleged breaches of League rules.
    What does that mean, though?
    In simple terms, the club stands accused of not providing “accurate financial information” that gave a “true and fair” picture regarding City’s revenues, actual salary payments to players and managerial staff deals with sponsors.
    That’s serious, right?
    Absolutely. Deadly serious. And it could have huge repercussions for the club.
    League legal chiefs believe City hid the true source of their revenues by claiming they were from sponsors when in fact they were funded by the club’s Abu Dhabi owners. 
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL

    City are also accused of paying a significant part of former boss Roberto Mancini’s salary through a Abu Dhabi shell company and hiding that fact.
    In another section of the charge, City are said to have not given full details of player wages.
    The club stands accused of breaching Uefa FFP rules for five seasons and Prem “profitability and sustainability” regulations over three seasons.
    And perhaps most seriously, City are said to have failed to give full information to Prem legal investigators over FOUR years since the probe began in December 2018.
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    How did we get here in the first place?
    The investigation into City’s finances was sparked by reports by the German investigative magazine Der Spiegel which accused City of hiding millions in funding from the club’s owners, Abu Dhabi United Group, under the guise of legitimate sponsorship earnings from Gulf-based companies including Etihad Airways and investment giants Aabar.
    City consistently criticised the “illegal hacking and out of context publication of City emails” but the allegations saw Uefa conduct its own inquiry which saw the club banned from European competition for two years in February 2020.

    But that ban was overturned, wasn’t it?
    It was. City lawyers successfully argued at the Court of Arbitration for Sport that the Uefa charges were brought too late and were not legitimately levied against them. CAS did fine City £9m for failing to cooperate with the Uefa inquiry.
    Will City take the same approach now?
    The club’s bullish statement suggested it will be a full-on and aggressive defence, citing the club’s “irrefutable evidence” and describing the “surprise” at the Prem charges. But it is understood there are no time limitations for alleged breaches of League rules.
    That was prompted following the publishing of leaked documents by German website Der Spiegel.

    And what could the punishment be – if City are found guilty, of course?
    Anything from a slap on the wrist and a fine to enforced relegation or even expulsion from the Prem. Points deductions could also be in place, whether just for this season or spread over the years in which the offences were allegedly committed.
    What could the punishment be – if City are found guilty, of course?
    The ONLY time a Prem club has had points deducted was in 1997 when Middlesbrough were stripped of three points for failing to complete their fixture at Blackburn, a  decision which ultimately relegated the Teesiders.
    Since then, League chiefs have baulked at applying similar penalties and the independent commission into the Carlos Tevez affair in 2006 ruled that while West Ham deserved to lose points, it would have been unfair on their fans as it would have guaranteed relegation. 
    Retrospective points lost would be different but would open up City to massive compensation claims totalling millions from the clubs who would have finished above them in those seasons – a one-point deduction in 2015-16, for example, would have seen Manchester United leapfrog City into fourth and a £40m-plus Champions League windfall.
    City, currently second in the table, face possible punishments including a points deduction, transfer bans, spending limits and even expulsion from the league and stripping of previous titles.
    In the period concerned, the reigning Prem champions won three titles – in the 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2017-18 seasons.
    It is not known what would happen to those titles, and whether they would be awarded to the runners-up, if City face the toughest possible sanction.
    If the league title is simply handed to the second placed side, Man Utd could pick up two more titles – from the 2011-12 and the 2017-18 seasons. Liverpool finished second in 2013-14 and could stand to be awarded that trophy.
    However, it is also possible if City are stripped that the titles will go unassigned.
    In the last case of a major team being expelled from a league, Italian giants Juventus were booted from Serie A over the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal.
    They won both the 2004-05 and 2005-06 titles but were downgraded to last place in the latter season and relegated to Serie B.
    Inter Milan were awarded the 2005-06 title, but the previous season’s trophy remains unassigned.
    Read More on The Sun
    So when will we know what the outcome is?
    That is still unclear but there will be huge pressure on the Prem to hold the hearing swiftly and announce the result before the end of the season.
    City would have the right of appeal but only to a Prem appeals panel and not, this time, to CAS. More

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    Dani Alves’ wife vows to STICK BY Brazil star on jail visit days after ‘demanding divorce’ over nightclub rape charge

    DANI Alves’ wife Joana Sanz has visited him in prison for the first time since his arrest over an alleged nightclub rape.The model, 29, said after 50 minutes inside the jail near Barcelona where the Brazil star is being held: “I’m not going to leave him alone at the worst moment in his life.”
    Joana was seen leaving the prison after spending 50 minutes thereCredit: Telecinco
    Joana Sanz requested for a divorce but has now vowed to ‘stick by him’Credit: Instagram @joanasanz
    Joana made a public show of support for her husband days after reports in Spain claimed she had demanded a divorce and that Alves had refused to see her in jail.
    She has already rubbished some of the claims made by Telecinco TV reporter Leticia Requejo in her Instagram posts.
    However, she stayed silent on the divorce issue and again declined to respond on Sunday as she left Brians 2 Prison where Alves is being held on remand.
    The Tenerife-born model was asked whether she had “parked” the idea of a split right now so she could help her husband defend himself.
    read more on Dani Alves
    As she walked to a waiting car, she said reports Alves had refused a face-to-face meeting with her last week were a “lie.”
    And she added: “I’m very well thanks” when asked how she was after seeing Alves.
    Joana visited the jail along with chef pal Bruno Brasil, who was reportedly with Alves on the night he allegedly assaulted a woman at iconic Barcelona nightclub Sutton.
    Alves, 39, admitted to cops he had sex with the woman but says it was consensual and denies rape.
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    Last week we reported how Sanz erased virtually all the photos of her with her husband on her Instagram.
    After claims she wanted a divorce, Joana insisted on Instagram: “I want to make it clear that the recent information about things I have said are totally false.
    “I haven’t contacted any media or any specific journalist. When I have something to say I, Joana Sanz, will say it, via an official statement on my social media.
    “Everything else is speculation. I appreciate your concern but at this moment in time there is a process underway which deserves not to be intoxicated.”
    Former FC Barcelona star Alves has been locked up since he was quizzed by a magistrate on January 20.
    Last week his new lawyer Cristobal Martell made a fresh appeal for him to be released on bail while the criminal investigation continues.
    The Brazilian World Cup ace agreed to wear a GPS ankle tag and surrender his passport if he is released, legal papers show.
    Alves is expected to hear by the end of this month whether his bail application has been successful.
    If it goes to trial, Alves could wait more than a year for the case to be heard.
    Alves flew into Barcelona after agreeing to be questioned over the allegations last month.
    Previously it emerged the woman claimed Alves slapped her and raped her in the nightclub bathroom in the early hours of December 31.
    She is also said to have described seeing the footballer’s intimate tattoo while he was partly undressed.
    The tearful woman is said to have immediately told her friends what happened, and bouncers then alerted police.
    Mexican club the Pumas terminated his contract after he was held in custody – and now they are reportedly seeking £4million in damages from him for breach of contract.
    Alves’ model wife Joanna Sanz, 29, spoke of her heartbreak after his arrest, which came days after her mother died.
    She said: “I have lost the only two pillars in my life.”
    Alves is the most decorated player in football history with 43 career trophies including three Champions League titles, two Copa Americas and an Olympic gold medal.
    Read More on The Sun
    In December he became Brazil’s oldest ever player at a World Cup aged 39.
    Last week he reportedly made his debut for a prison football team.
    Alves is being held at Brians 2 Prison near BarcelonaCredit: Solarpix
    Alves is accused of raping a woman at Barcelona’s Sutton nightclub More