Spanish Appeals Court Overturns Dani Alves’ Rape Conviction
In a surprising turn of events, a Spanish appeals court has reversed the rape conviction of former Brazil international footballer Dani Alves, citing flaws and inaccuracies in his trial.
The 41-year-old Alves was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in February of the previous year for assaulting a young woman in the VIP restroom of a Barcelona nightclub on December 31, 2022. However, he was released last March after paying a bail of one million euros ($1.1 million) while awaiting his appeal.
The appeals court, comprised of four judges, unanimously approved Alves’ appeal and overturned his conviction. The court also dismissed the appeal by public prosecutors who sought a harsher sentence of nine years.
According to the court’s ruling, Alves’ trial was marred by “gaps, inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and contradictions concerning the facts, the legal evaluation, and its outcomes.”
During the trial, the victim testified that Alves had forcefully compelled her to engage in sexual intercourse while she pleaded with him to stop, causing her anguish and terror. Alves initially denied knowing the woman but later claimed they had consensual sex. His defense team argued that the victim had been “glued” to the player while dancing at the nightclub.
Dani Alves, a key player in Barcelona’s success with three Champions League titles, also enjoyed a successful international career with Brazil, winning the Copa America twice. He had stints with top clubs like Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain before joining Pumas UNAM in Mexico, where he was dismissed following his arrest.
