Former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves has been handed a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence following his conviction for rape in a Spanish nightclub.
Former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves has been handed a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence after being convicted of raping a woman at a nightclub in Spain. The incident took place at Sutton, an upscale celebrity venue in Barcelona, where a 23-year-old woman accused Alves of assaulting her in a restroom.
Despite denying any wrongdoing, Alves was found guilty by the court. In addition to the prison term, he has been ordered to pay £128,000 in compensation to the victim and cover legal costs.
This verdict marks a significant development in the legal proceedings surrounding the case, which has garnered considerable attention both within Spain and internationally due to Alves’ prominence in the world of football.
During the trial, it was revealed that Dani Alves had been in pre-trial custody for over a year following his arrest on December 30, 2022, the night of the incident. The trial commenced three weeks ago, with state prosecutors seeking a nine-year prison sentence if Alves was found guilty, while the accuser’s lawyers aimed for a 12-year term.
Conversely, Alves’ defense team requested an acquittal, or in the event of a guilty verdict, a one-year prison sentence along with £42,000 in compensation for the woman, whose identity remains undisclosed for legal reasons.
In Spain, rape allegations fall under the broader category of sexual assault, with convictions typically resulting in prison terms ranging from four to 15 years. Throughout the trial, Alves, a former right-back who most recently played for Mexican club UNAM, steadfastly maintained his innocence.
The trial, held in Barcelona from February 5 to February 7, featured testimony from 28 witnesses, including Alves’ accuser and his wife, Joana Sanz, a model. Initially, Alves denied any sexual contact with the woman, but later admitted to a consensual encounter, explaining that his initial denial was an attempt to salvage his marriage.