ReutersDani Alves during the trial in Barcelona
NOS Voetbal•gisteren, 10:38
Dani Alves has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison. The 40-year-old Brazilian footballer has been found guilty by a Spanish court of raping a 23-year-old woman in the toilet of a nightclub in Barcelona in December 2022.
He must also pay the victim compensation of 150,000 euros. Nine years in prison had been demanded against Alves.
Alves has always denied that he assaulted the woman, allegedly hitting her in the toilet stall, pushing her to the ground and then forcing her to have sex.
“I’m not the type of man to do something like that,” Alves said earlier this month during his case in court.
The 126-time Brazil international initially denied ever having met the woman. He later adjusted his statement several times, partly in response to video images, audio recordings, witness statements and DNA evidence.
Fixed for a year
Alves was arrested in January last year and has been in custody since then. His Mexican club Pumas UNAM terminated his contract immediately after his arrest.
Alves played two spells for FC Barcelona between 2008 and 2022 and won the Champions League three times in those years. He also played for Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, among others. He participated in three World Cups with Brazil, but never became world champion.
An appeal is possible against the decision of the three-member jury.
‘Much and strong evidence’
“Alves’ case is important here in Spain,” reports correspondent Miral de Bruijne. “In the past, footballers and famous people have often been accused of sexual assault or rape, but this never resulted in a strong case. Usually there was not enough evidence or settlement was made. But in this case there was a lot of strong evidence.”
“The victim said in the run-up to the hearing that she did not want money, but justice. It is a special case for the Public Prosecution Service because they want to show that rapists do not go free within the Spanish legal system.”
Compensation paid
“The Public Prosecution Service wanted Alves to go to prison for 9 years and the victim’s lawyer even went for 12 years. The fact that it ultimately became 4 years is due to the compensation that the footballer paid. In his defense, he tried to get the sentence by proving that he was drunk, but the judge did not agree.”