Former Barcelona and Brazil International footballer Dani Alves has been found guilty of sexual assault at a nightclub in Barcelona.
Alves was found guilty of raping a woman by a Spanish Court on February 22, 2024, with the Court sentencing him to four years and six months in jail.
Catalonia’s top court also ordered that Alves pay 150,000 euros (Ksh23.59 million) to the victim.
“The sentence considers that it has been proven that the victim did not consent, and that there is evidence, in addition to the testimony of the plaintiff, to consider the rape proven,” the court said in a statement.
According to BBC, the 40-year-old had been accused of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub back in December 2022, allegations which he had denied.
His defense lawyer had asked for him to be acquitted and the ex-Brazil international player can appeal against the sentence.
The ex-Brazil player while defending himself, maintained that the sex was consensual.
Alves prosecution
State prosecutors were seeking for a nine-year prison term for the former Barcelona star if convicted while his victim’s lawyers had sought a 12-year sentence.
On the other hand, his defense team asked for his acquittal or, if found guilty, a one-year sentence plus €50,000 (Ksh7.86 million) compensation for the victim.
Alves was arrested on January 20, 2023, after answering police summons during a visit to Spain and has been held on remand since.
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His requests for bail were denied because he was considered as a flight risk by the Court.
Brazil does not extradite its own citizens when they are sentenced in other countries.
According to Reuters, the case has attracted significant attention not only because of the Brazilian’s profile but because gender violence has become an increasingly dominant issue in the Country.
In addition, the case is one of the most high-profile trials in Spain since a law passed in 2022 increased minimum prison term for assaults involving violence.
The law also made consent a key element in sexual assault cases according to Spanish media reports.
Career
Alves is widely considered one of the greatest full backs of all time and is among the most decorated player in the history of professional football, with 43 senior titles.
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He started his career at Bahia in 2001 before signing for Spanish club Sevilla where he had a successful six-year spell, winning two UEFA Cups and the Copa del Rey.
Following his success, he went on to join Spanish giants Barcelona, going on to win the treble in his first season with the club and in the next season.
He has also had stints at Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Brazilian club São Paulo.
In 2022, Alves joined Mexican club UNAM which terminated his contract in 2023 after he was detained in Spain, during a process in which he was charged with the sexual assault case.
