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Former Barcelona Player, Dani Alves Sentenced To Prison Over Alleged Rape
Former Barcelona player, Dani Alves, has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison by a Spanish court.
The court found the Brazilian guilty of raping a young woman at a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022.
In their statement, the Barcelona court emphasized that the victim did not give her consent and there was sufficient evidence to establish the occurrence of rape.
Prosecutors had initially sought a nine-year jail term for Alves, followed by 10 years of probation. Alves, who had an illustrious career playing for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, faced trial earlier this month on charges of sexually assaulting a woman at the Sutton nightclub on the early hours of December 31, 2022.
The victim, who testified anonymously, described how Alves forcefully engaged in sexual activity with her in a private bathroom despite her pleas to be released, causing her immense distress and fear, as stated by the prosecutors.
During the court proceedings, a close companion of the victim became overwhelmed with emotion and shed tears as she recounted how the victim was visibly distressed, crying uncontrollably after leaving the bathroom. She expressed that Alves had caused significant harm to her friend.
Law enforcement officers who responded to the incident testified in court, describing the victim’s agitated and shocked state upon their arrival at the nightclub. They also mentioned her apprehension that her complaint might not be believed by others.
Throughout the three-day trial, Alves remained present in court and provided his testimony, asserting that the sexual encounter with the woman was consensual.
He vehemently denied any allegations of physical violence, including hitting her or forcefully grabbing her hair.
“I am not that type of man; I am not violent,” he told the court after his defence lawyer asked if he had forced her to have sex.
“If she wanted to leave, she could have left, she was not obligated to be there,” he added.
Dani Alves
Alves’ companion, who accompanied him that evening, stated that the soccer player consumed wine and whiskey prior to heading to the nightclub.
Sportxparte understands that Alves’ spouse, Joana Sanz, aged 31, informed the court during Tuesday’s session that he seemed heavily intoxicated upon returning to their residence in Barcelona that night, and she chose not to engage in conversation with him due to his condition.
Alves “smelled of alcohol” and on entering the bedroom “he bumped into several pieces of furniture and collapsed on the bed”, she told the court.
Alves initially refuted any connection to the woman during a television interview, but later admitted to engaging in consensual sex with her. He confessed to La Vanguardia newspaper in June that he had lied out of fear that his wife would leave him.
The athlete has been in custody since his arrest in Barcelona in January 2023. Despite his repeated requests for bail, the courts have consistently denied his release due to concerns about his potential to flee, given his substantial wealth.
Brazil does not extradite its citizens who have been convicted in other countries.
Alves is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders in history, having amassed 42 trophies throughout his illustrious career.
His most successful period was with Barcelona from 2008 to 2016, during which he secured 23 trophies. At the time of his arrest, he was under contract with Mexican club Pumas UNAM, but was promptly dismissed following his detention.
