Former Brazilian footballer Dani Alves has been found guilty of sexual assault and sentenced to four and a half years in prison by a court in Barcelona. The incident occurred on December 31, 2022, at a nightclub where Alves assaulted a woman in a bathroom.
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Despite his denial of any wrongdoing during the trial, the court concluded that the victim did not consent to the sexual encounter and found Alves guilty based on evidence presented, from the victim and other witnesses.
The ruling by three-judge panel in a Barcelona court followed a three-day trial this month. Alves, 40, denied any wrongdoing during the trial. He can appeal against the decision.
The court found Dani Alves sexually assaulted his victim early in the morning of 31 December 2022, when she said he raped her in a bathroom of an upmarket Barcelona nightclub.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Alves has given varying accounts of the events, initially denying any sexual contact with the victim before admitting to consensual relations.
However, the court found that the encounter was not consensual and ruled in favor of the victim. Dani Alves has been in custody since his arrest in January 2023, with bail requests being denied due to concerns about him being a flight risk.
His defence had asked for his acquittal, or if found guilty a one year sentence plus an order to pay 50,000 euros (£42,765) in compensation to the victim.
The court also ordered Dani Alves to pay €150,000 in compensation to the victim. The victim reported that she was forcibly held and raped by Alves, despite her repeated protests and attempts to leave.
Dani Alves initially denied any wrongdoing but later admitted to consensual sexual relations, citing personal reasons for his initial denial.
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State prosecutors had sought a nine-year prison sentence for Dani Alves, while the victim’s lawyers wanted 12 years.
The trial, which lasted three days, culminated in Dani Alves being found guilty of sexual assault. State prosecutors had sought a nine-year prison sentence, while the victim’s lawyers pushed for a 12-year term.
The court sentenced Dani Alves to four and a half years in prison and ordered him to pay compensation to the victim.
The Dani Alves sexual assault case happening against the ongoing conversations about gender violence, consent, and the #MeToo movement.
Spain’s legal reforms, including the “only yes means yes” law, a change in how sexual assault cases are prosecuted and understood.
Spain’s legal system, influenced by recent legislative changes, addresses the “Only Yes Means Yes” principle, placing consent at the forefront of defining sexual crimes.
Alves won dozens of titles with elite clubs including Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain. He also helped Brazil win two Copa Américas and an Olympic gold medal.
He played at his third World Cup, the only major title he has not won, in 2022. He played for Barcelona from 2008-16 and rejoined the club in 2022. He still has a residence near the city.
Alves’ storied career, which included successful stints at Barcelona, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain, is now overshadowed by this conviction.
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