FORMER Rangers star Claudio Caniggia has been warned he could face up to 15 years in prison after being ordered to stand trial for an alleged sex attack on his ex-wife.
The former Dundee and Argentina striker had tried to halt proceedings against him after Mariana Nannis accused him of forcing himself on her at a Buenos Aires hotel where they were both living at the time.
But the 56-year-old, who played in three World Cups for his country alongside the likes of Diego Maradona, suffered a major setback after the Criminal Division of Argentina’s Nations Appeals Court rejected his lawyers’ arguments charges should not stand.
He is set to be put on trial for “aggravated sexual abuse” over the alleged attack claimed to have occurred in 2018 at the Faena Hotel in the upmarket Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Puerto Madero.
Mariana, mother of Caniggia’s three children, sparked the investigation that led to the retired footballer’s prosecution by claiming he had raped her on May 6, 2018 at the five-star hotel.
The striker’s accuser, whose split from her husband was confirmed in July 2019 a year and a half after they began leading separate lives, has alleged he forced himself on her after she rejected his advances, hit her and threatened to kill her if she went to police.
He has been told he could get 15 years in prison if convicted.
Local reports point to hotel staff testimony and photographs showing Mariana’s injuries forming part of the evidence against him.
Caniggia, who has been banned from leaving Argentina since June, has always denied any wrongdoing
The former footballer went on to date model and influencer Sofia Bonelli, who at 29 is nearly 30 years younger than him.
Caniggia played for both River Plate and Boca Juniors in his homeland.
He became a cult legend at many of the clubs he has played at.
His goal against Dunfermline in 2003 helped Rangers win the title.
The striker also scored against arch rivals Celtic in the League Cup final that year – having previously been at Dundee for a season from 2000 to 2001.
Caniggia scored 16 goals in his 50 appearances for Argentina.
He played at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups and scored four goals in eight matches before returning for the 2002 tournament after being frozen out of the national team for several years because he refused to cut his long hair under the strict regime of Daniel Passarella.
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