In a stunning legal twist, a Spanish appeals court has overturned the rape conviction of former Barcelona football star Dani Alves, citing significant “shortcomings” and “inaccuracies” in the original trial. The court’s ruling on Friday raises questions about the justice system and the case’s controversial handling.
Alves, 41, had been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison in February 2024 for raping a young woman in the VIP bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub on New Year’s Eve 2022. However, following his appeal, the court found several inconsistencies and contradictions in the trial’s proceedings, leading to the annulment of his conviction.
The Brazilian football icon, who won three Champions League titles with Barcelona, was granted release last March after posting a €1 million bail while waiting for the appeal’s outcome. The court’s decision to overturn the conviction was unanimous, with all four judges agreeing that the trial contained serious errors. In contrast, the public prosecutors had appealed for a harsher sentence of nine years in prison, a request that was also rejected.
The appeals court’s ruling pointed out multiple flaws in the legal process, including gaps in the evidence and the handling of the facts. During the original trial, the woman, who testified anonymously, claimed Alves had sexually assaulted her despite her desperate pleas for him to stop. She described the ordeal as causing her “anguish and terror.” On the other hand, Alves denied the allegations, insisting the encounter was consensual, and firmly rejected any accusations of violence, including grabbing the woman’s hair.
Initially, Alves had denied knowing the woman, but CCTV footage later showed them entering the nightclub’s bathroom together, prompting him to admit to the sexual encounter. He later explained that he had lied out of fear of his wife leaving him.
In addition to overturning the conviction, the appeals court also annulled previous rulings requiring Alves to pay €150,000 in compensation to his accuser and serve five years of probation after completing any jail term. With the conviction overturned, these “precautionary measures” were also lifted.
Alves, who had a distinguished career, playing for top clubs like Barcelona, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain, was with Mexican club Pumas UNAM at the time of his arrest. He was sacked shortly after.
The court’s decision has sparked mixed reactions, including criticism from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who expressed disappointment over the bail granted to Alves, emphasizing that “money cannot undo the crime of rape.”
As the legal battle continues, the case remains a significant point of contention in discussions surrounding justice, accountability, and the treatment of sexual assault allegations.
