The trial of the case took place this Wednesday, focusing on a gender-violence allegation involving a Córdoba CF football player. The prosecutor’s office asked for a ten-month prison term, a request that framed the proceedings as a significant test for the local legal system. The City of Justice Courtroom 1, home to the 6th Criminal Court of Córdoba, hosted the session and was led by the presiding judge, Maria Revuelta Merino. Simo Bouzaidi, represented by Córdoba CF advisor Jesús Coca, appeared alongside his partner and asked the judge to keep the proceedings private in order to protect their privacy, urging that the press be excluded from the hearing. Notably, the partner did not file a formal complaint against Bouzaidi, and prosecutors acted ex officio before Bouzaidi’s arrest by National Police officers. A medical report documenting an injury was also part of the case record, contributing to the context of the allegations.
a long session
The judge granted the request for a private session, and the proceedings extended longer than typical for cases of this type. In the hours surrounding the session, two national police officers visited Bouzaidi’s residence to gather evidence, spending over an hour at the scene. The medical testimony described a sprain and rib contusion, among other injuries, providing details that could influence the judge’s assessment of the allegations.
Bouzaidi and his partner arrived at Justice City around 10:30 a.m., about a quarter of an hour before the scheduled start. The trial was later adjourned to 11:20 a.m. During the interlude, the pair was seen in the building’s grounds, where staff and bystanders occasionally crossed paths with them. One construction worker who passes through the city center was spotted seeking an autograph for a relative, illustrating the unusual mix of public interest and routine access surrounding the police and court complex. Bouzaidi appeared calm, while his partner showed visible nerves as the decision about a public hearing loomed large. The partner explicitly requested a private session, prompting a press exit from the courtroom.
After about an hour, Bouzaidi rejoined the proceedings with his partner, accompanied by their legal counsel, Jesús Coca. Coca indicated that the process was unfolding as anticipated and that the parties were proceeding with the case according to plan. The magistrate’s ruling was anticipated in the coming days, with a likely decision expected by early next week.
Truths
The Córdoba CF player had arrived in the city on September 12 after traveling with his team for a match, checking in around 7:00 a.m. The events of the afternoon saw police officers summoned to the residence, where Bouzaidi and his partner were together. They disclosed that an argument had occurred on the scene, and one party reported minor bruises and scratches as a result of a dispute.
Bouzaidi was taken into custody and processed at police facilities, with the victim presenting a medical report. The victim indicated a willingness not to testify or file a formal complaint, a factor that influenced how prosecutors proceeded. The defense and the court aligned on an ex officio statement that was included in the court record, and health authorities were notified about the incident as part of the ongoing proceedings.
The case proceeded under the oversight of the police court, with a decision by the Andalusian High Court of Justice indicating that neither Bouzaidi nor his partner wished to testify before the judge. Importantly, the victim did not authorize a formal complaint. As a result, Bouzaidi was released on provisional terms, and no protection order was issued against the woman. The 6th Criminal Court of Córdoba, charged with examining the events, prepared to receive testimony as part of the investigation into the incident and to clarify the roles of Bouzaidi and his partner in the matter.
The prosecutor’s office noted that the dispute arose after Bouzaidi continued a relationship with a woman who lived in the capital city. During an encounter on September 12, the parties faced a tense moment when one party attempted to intervene to separate them, and the other party sought to have Bouzaidi remain at home. The case thus centers on both the alleged domestic violence and the accompanying questions about testimony and accountability, as reflected in the judicial process and the evolving investigation.