Former Barcelona Star Dani Alves Found Guilty of Rape: Sentenced to Four and a Half Years in Prison

In a landmark verdict, a Spanish court has declared former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves guilty of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub, leading to a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence. The 40-year-old, known for his illustrious football career, had vehemently denied the allegations of sexual assault, which occurred in the early hours of December 31, 2022.

Alves, considered one of the most decorated footballers in history, faced a prosecution seeking a nine-year prison term. However, the court opted for a four-and-a-half-year sentence along with an additional five years of probation. Spanish law investigates rape claims under the general accusation of sexual assault, carrying prison sentences ranging from four to 15 years upon conviction.

The court acknowledged Alves’s decision to pay €150,000 (£128,500) in damages to the victim, irrespective of the trial’s outcome. However, it dismissed the defense’s plea for leniency due to intoxication, asserting that alcohol consumption did not excuse his behavior.

Despite Alves’s wife, Joana Sanz, stating he appeared heavily intoxicated on the night of the incident, the court found that his inebriation did not impact his actions. Prosecutors argued that Alves, along with a friend, had purchased champagne for three women before coercing one into a VIP area where the assault occurred.

The court rejected Alves’s claims that the encounter was consensual, emphasizing evidence beyond the victim’s testimony. It detailed how Alves forcibly grabbed and threw the complainant to the ground, raping her while preventing her from leaving despite her protests. The recent change in Spanish law, adopting the “Only Yes is Yes” principle, emphasizes the significance of consent.

The victim’s lawyer welcomed the verdict, stating that it “recognizes what we have always known: the truth [as told] by the victim and the suffering there has been.” The victim described the ordeal as causing “anguish and terror,” with a friend recalling her leaving the bathroom in uncontrollable tears.

Alves, who played over 400 times for Barcelona and featured in Brazil’s 2022 World Cup squad, has been in pre-trial detention since January 2023. He changed his testimony multiple times, initially denying any knowledge of the accuser, then claiming consensual interaction, and later alleging they were both “enjoying themselves.”

His lawyer has indicated an intention to appeal the verdict, ensuring this case will continue to capture public attention and spark conversations about consent and accountability in the sporting world.

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