A Spanish appeals court on Friday overturned the rape conviction of former Brazil international footballer Dani Alves, citing “shortcomings” and “inaccuracies” in his trial.
Alves, 41, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison in February 2023 for raping a young woman in the VIP bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub on December 31, 2022. However, he was released in March after posting a €1 million ($1.1 million) bail while awaiting the outcome of his appeal.
In a unanimous decision, a panel of four judges annulled Alves’ conviction, rejecting an appeal by public prosecutors who had sought to extend his prison term to nine years. The court ruled that the trial contained “a series of gaps, inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and contradictions” regarding the facts, legal assessments, and consequences.
During the trial, the victim, who testified behind a screen to protect her identity, said Alves had forcibly raped her despite her pleas for him to stop, causing her “anguish and terror,” according to prosecutors. Alves initially denied knowing the woman before later claiming their encounter was consensual. His defense argued that the alleged victim had been “glued” to him while dancing at the nightclub.
A decorated footballer, Alves played a crucial role in Barcelona’s dominance, winning six La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League trophies. He also earned 126 caps for Brazil, winning the Copa América twice. Additionally, he secured league titles in Italy with Juventus and in France with Paris Saint-Germain.
At the time of his arrest, Alves was under contract with Mexican club Pumas UNAM, which swiftly terminated his contract following the allegations.
