Soccer star Dani Alves found guilty of rape, sentenced to four and a half years in prison

Dani Alves sits during his trial in Barcelona earlier this month.

Former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves has been handed a sentence of four years and six months for the rape of a 23-year-old woman in a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022.

A statement from the Audiencia Nacional in Barcelona declared that the victim did not consent to sexual intercourse with Alves. Evidence presented to the court, alongside the victim’s testimony, substantiated that she had been subjected to rape.

The prosecution had sought a nine-year sentence, while the victim’s legal team had requested 12. Alves’s sentence, slightly exceeding the minimum of four years, means he may soon be released on license, having served a quarter of his term on remand. He has also been ordered to pay the victim €150,000 (£128,00) in compensation, along with an additional €9,000 for her injuries. Furthermore, he will be under legal supervision for an additional five years and has been issued a restraining order preventing contact with the victim for nine years and six months.

Maintaining his innocence, Alves plans to appeal, as confirmed by his lawyer, Inés Guardiola.

This verdict reflects a departure from the past tendency to scrutinize the victim's actions, placing emphasis instead on the presence or absence of consent. Legislation enacted in 2022 emphasizes that establishing sexual aggression does not hinge on physical injuries or the victim’s resistance.

Spain’s vice-president, Yolanda Díaz, expressed hope that the sentence would serve as a deterrent, stating, “Enough of machismo and sexual aggression that women endure in all spheres of life.”

Tània Verge, the Catalan equality minister, hailed the Alves case as a significant moment. She underscored the importance of nightclubs implementing protocols against sexual violence and training staff to respond promptly. Verge emphasized the necessity of conducting trials with full protection for victims and placing sexual consent at the forefront. Moreover, she asserted that impunity is no longer tolerated, regardless of the perpetrators' status or attempts to discredit victims.

The incident occurred when Alves met the woman in the VIP section of Sutton nightclub in Barcelona on December 30, 2022. After purchasing drinks for her and her friends, he invited her to a secluded area of the club, where there were no surveillance cameras.

The van carrying Dani Alves arrives at the court in Barcelona on Thursday.

According to the victim, once inside, Alves demanded oral sex, and when she refused, he proceeded to rape her. Initially denying any encounter with the woman, Alves altered his account multiple times when confronted with forensic and video evidence.

Alves, renowned for his successes with clubs such as Sevilla, Barcelona, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain, amassed numerous titles during his career. He represented Brazil 126 times, participating in three World Cups and contributing to two Copa Américas victories and an Olympic gold medal.

Having played for Barcelona from 2008 to 2016 and briefly returning to the club in 2022, Alves still maintains a residence near the city. Following his arrest while playing for the Mexican club Pumas, his contract was promptly terminated.