Ex Brazilian and Barcelona legend sentenced to four and half years jail sentence over sexual assault
The top court in Catalonia has convicted former Brazilian footballer of sexually assaulting a woman at an upscale Barcelona nightclub on New Year’s Eve in December 2022.
Former Barcelona and Brazilian footballer Dani Alves has received a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence for sexual assault.
Catalonia’s top court found him guilty of assaulting a woman in a high-end Barcelona nightclub on New Year’s Eve in December 2022.
The Victim’s accusation on Dani Alves
The victim, who claimed Alves raped her in a bathroom, will receive 150,000 euros (£128,479.50) as ordered by the court.
Despite being detained since his arrest in January 2023 and facing denied bail requests, Alves, aged 40, is considered a flight risk, and the Brazilian Federal Constitution protects him from extradition.
The victim informed state prosecutors that on the night of the assault, she initially danced with Alves and willingly entered the nightclub bathroom.
However, when she wanted to leave later, he allegedly prevented her from doing so, slapped her, insulted her, and engaged in non-consensual sexual relations against her will.
Dani Alves response on the allegations
Alves, denying any wrongdoing during the trial, initially claimed no sexual contact with the victim while in custody but later admitted to consensual relations, stating he was trying to protect his marriage by not admitting to the encounter initially.
Throughout the trial, Alves’ defense centered on portraying him as intoxicated during the encounter with the woman.
According to Skysports News Hq, State prosecutors sought a nine-year prison sentence for Alves, while the accuser’s lawyers aimed for 12 years. Alves’ defense requested acquittal or, in case of guilt, a one-year sentence plus a 50,000 euro (£42,765) compensation for the victim. The court’s decision is open to appeal.
Spain introduced the “only yes means yes” law in October 2022, restructuring the criminal code to prioritize sexual consent in assault cases. This legislation aims to categorize all non-consensual sexual acts as rape.
