Former Barcelona Star Dani Alves Sentenced to Four-and-a-Half Years in Prison for Sexual Assault
In a shocking development, former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison for the rape of a 23-year-old woman in a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022. The court ruling, delivered by the Barcelona Provincial Court, emphasized that the victim did not consent to the assault, marking a significant verdict under Spain’s updated sexual liberty law.
The incident took place on the night of December 30, 2022, at the Sutton nightclub in Barcelona. Alves, 40, met the woman in the VIP area of the club, and after buying her and her friends a drink, he beckoned her to join him in a bathroom – the only area not covered by cameras. Inside the bathroom, the victim claimed that Alves demanded oral sex, and when she refused, he proceeded to rape her.
Throughout the trial, Alves consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating that the encounter was consensual. However, the court found evidence, including the victim’s testimony and other supporting factors, that led to the conviction. Alves’s lawyer, Inés Guardiola, has already announced plans to appeal the ruling.
The court sentenced Alves to four years and six months in prison, ordered him to pay €9,000 for physical damage to the victim, and offered to pay compensation of €150,000, which the court considered an attenuating circumstance during sentencing. Additionally, Alves will be under legal supervision for five years, and a restraining order bans him from contacting the victim for nine years and six months.
The verdict comes as a landmark decision, reflecting a shift away from traditional norms that often burdened victims with proving lack of consent. Spain’s legislation from 2022 explicitly states that the proof of sexual aggression is not dependent on physical injuries or the victim’s resistance.
The case is particularly significant as it involves a high-profile sports figure, Dani Alves, who played a crucial role in Barcelona’s success from 2008 to 2016, contributing to three Champions League titles and six Spanish league victories. Alves also had a brief return to Barcelona in 2022.
The sentencing is expected to have broader implications, setting an example against machismo and sexual aggression. Spain’s Vice-President, Yolanda Díaz, expressed hope that the verdict would signal an end to such behaviors women often face in various aspects of life.
This decision follows Alves’s arrest in January 2023, leading to the termination of his contract with Mexican club Pumas. The conviction has sent shockwaves through the football community, raising questions about the conduct of sports figures off the field.
In the wake of this verdict, discussions around consent, sexual violence prevention, and the responsibility of high-profile individuals are likely to gain prominence. The case also underlines the importance of enforcing protocols against sexual violence in public spaces, such as nightclubs, as mentioned by Tània Verge, the Catalan equality minister.
As Dani Alves contemplates his legal options, the football world is left grappling with the fall from grace of a once-celebrated player who now faces a significant prison sentence. The ramifications of this verdict extend beyond the courtroom, prompting broader conversations about accountability, consent, and the treatment of victims in cases of sexual assault.