Dani Alves’ Rape Conviction Overturned

Ex-Barcelona Star Dani Alves’ Rape Conviction Overturned by Spanish Court, Citing Legal Shortcomings and Trial Inconsistencies

A Spanish appeals court has overturned the rape conviction of former Brazilian footballer Dani Alves, citing “shortcomings” and “inaccuracies” in his trial.

Alves, 41, was sentenced in February 2023 to four and a half years in prison for raping a woman in a VIP bathroom at a Barcelona nightclub on December 31, 2022. He was released on bail last March after posting one million euros ($1.1 million) while awaiting appeal.

The court’s four judges unanimously annulled his conviction, rejecting prosecutors’ appeal for a longer nine-year sentence. The ruling pointed to inconsistencies and contradictions in the case.

During the trial, the accuser testified behind a screen, alleging Alves used force and caused her “anguish and terror.” Alves denied the allegations, maintaining the encounter was consensual.

Initially, Alves denied knowing the woman but later admitted to having sex with her after CCTV footage surfaced. He later said he had lied out of fear his wife would leave him.

With the conviction overturned, all associated penalties, including compensation and probation, have been dropped.

Alves, a three-time Champions League winner with Barcelona, also played for Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, and Brazil’s national team. His arrest led to his dismissal from Mexican club Pumas UNAM.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva previously criticized Alves’ bail decision, stating that money “cannot undo the crime that a man commits by raping a woman.”

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