Former Brazilian football star Dani Alves has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison by a Spanish court for the alleged rape of a young woman at a nightclub in Barcelona in December 2022.
The court also imposed a five-year probation period following his jail term and ordered him to pay €150,000 ($162,000) in compensation to the victim.
In its ruling, the Barcelona court stated that the victim did not consent to the sexual encounter and presented evidence supporting the rape allegations. According to the court, Alves forcibly grabbed the complainant, threw her to the ground, and sexually assaulted her, despite her protests and attempts to leave.
Prosecutors had initially sought a nine-year jail term for the 40-year-old, along with a 10-year probation period. Alves, who maintained that the encounter was consensual, has the option to appeal the verdict.
The trial, which began earlier this month, centered on accusations that Alves raped a woman at the Sutton nightclub on December 31, 2022. The victim, who testified anonymously, recounted how Alves allegedly subjected her to a violent sexual assault in a private bathroom, causing her immense distress and fear.
During the trial, Alves denied the allegations of violence and insisted that the encounter was consensual. He emphasized that the woman could have left if she had wanted to, rejecting claims of coercion.
Alves’ wife, Joana Sanz, testified that he returned home intoxicated on the night in question. Alves, who hails from Juazeiro, Brazil, initially denied any involvement with the woman but later admitted to having consensual sex with her, attributing his initial denial to fear of losing his marriage.
Alves, known for his illustrious football career with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, has been in custody since his arrest in January 2023. Despite repeated requests for bail, the courts deemed him a flight risk due to his financial means.
As one of the most decorated footballers, Alves has won numerous trophies throughout his career, including 23 during his tenure at Barcelona from 2008 to 2016. At the time of his arrest, he was playing for Mexican club Pumas UNAM, from which he was subsequently released.
Reported By AFP.
