Former Boca Juniors football player Sebastián Villa will stand trial for sexually assaulting Rocío Tamara Doldán back in June 2021, a court ruled on Tuesday. An appeals court in Lomas de Zamora denied his request for appeal and will face charges of sexual assault, a crime that carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

According to District Attorney Vanesa González’s indictment, the assault took place on the night of June 26th 2021, going into the early hours of the 27th. Villa, Doldán and a group of acquaintances were at their home in the gated community Venado II, in Canning (Buenos Aires province).

“While the two of them were laying together, Villa insulted Doldán, grabbing her by the hair and slapping her in the face,” said González in her request to elevate the case to trial.

According to the DA, Villa placed the victim “in a defenseless state, making it impossible for her to leave” as she wanted.

In her accusation, Doldán said that the footballer drank a lot and then accused her of hitting on or having sexual relationships with other Boca players. She then described Villa locking her in a room and sexually assaulting her before trying to suffocate her.

According to Télam, the doctors who treated Doldán at the Penna Hospital following the assault testified that she was in pain and was given painkillers, although the file says that no physical signs of abuse were found.

The investigation claims Villa and his inner circle called Doldán to meet and offered her money in exchange for keeping quiet. An audio clip and a video were accepted as evidence where the former Boca Juniors player can be heard talking to her about a deal.

“We made a deal. You’re a woman of your word, aren’t you? I am a man of my word,” Villa says to Doldán in the video. According to witness statements, a friend of Villa’s gave Doldán US$5,000.

Villa denied all accusations in a statement handed to the DA.

In June, he was found guilty of gender-based violence against his former partner Daniela Cortés and given a suspended sentence of two years and one month in prison.

—Télam