22nd February, 2024
Former Barcelona and Brazil right-back footballer Dani Alves has been sentenced to four years and six months for raping a 23-year-old woman in a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022.
According to a written statement from the Audiencia Nacional in Barcelona asserts that the victim did not to consent to sex with Alves and that evidence presented to the court, in addition to the victim’s statement, proved that she had been raped.
As reported by Sky Sports, this is a landmark case for Spain’s new sexual assault laws.
The 40-year-old, who was found guilty. He must also pay his victim 150,000 euros in compensation and their legal costs.
The court ruled that Alves had violated the victim’s consent and that evidence supported her accusations.
Alves denied wrongdoing and his lawyer, Inés Guardiola, has said they will appeal.
Alves’ initial denials and later claims of consensual sex were rejected. He claimed he had tried to protect his marriage by initially denying the encounter, and his defence attempted to portray him as intoxicated.
“The Court of Barcelona has condemned footballer Dani Alves to four years and six months in prison for sexual assault. The victim must also receive 150,000 euros and have their legal costs paid.
“The sentence takes into consideration that it has been proven the victim did not consent and that there is evidence in addition to their testimony that proves the offence,” the statement from the Audiencia de Barcelona on Thursday read.
Alves has the right to appeal the sentence, but his requests for bail were denied due to flight risk concerns. Brazil does not extradite its citizens.
Alves, a decorated footballer with numerous titles across elite clubs like Barcelona and Juventus, saw his contract with Mexican club Pumas terminated upon his arrest.
His career now hangs in the balance, with the conviction potentially ending his football playing career.
This is not the first time a prominent figure in the football world will be enmeshed in sexual assault legal fireworks, the likes of Mason Greenwood, Benjamin Mendy and even the duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar have at different times been accused but they were able to prove their cases.