Former Barcelona and Brazil right-back Dani Alves has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison for sexual assault, News About Nigeria reports.
The 40-year-old, who had been in custody since January 2023, was found guilty of assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub on New Year’s Eve 2022.
According to a statement from the Audiencia de Barcelona on Thursday, the court ruled that Alves violated the victim’s consent, and the evidence supported her accusations.
Alves was also ordered to pay his victim 150,000 euros in compensation, along with covering her legal costs.
Alves initially denied the allegations, later claiming the encounter was consensual.
His defence attempted to claim that he was intoxicated, and he admitted to trying to protect his marriage by initially denying the encounter.
The court, however, rejected his denials, stating that evidence supported the victim’s claims.
Alves has the right to appeal the sentence, but his requests for bail were denied due to concerns about the risk of flight, as Brazil does not extradite its citizens.
This case marks a significant moment for Spain as it serves as the first high-profile test of its revised sexual assault legislation, which prioritises consent. Alves, a decorated footballer with an illustrious career across elite clubs like Barcelona and Juventus, saw his contract with Mexican club Pumas terminated upon his arrest.
The conviction raises questions about the future of his football career.
This incident adds to the list of prominent figures in the football world facing legal challenges related to sexual assault.
Players such as Mason Greenwood, Benjamin Mendy, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar have all faced accusations at different times, with outcomes varying based on the evidence presented.
