Spanish Court Overturns Dani Alves’ Sexual Assault Conviction on Appeal

In a major legal reversal, a Spanish court has overturned the sexual assault conviction of Brazilian football star Dani Alves, citing a lack of sufficient evidence. The decision was delivered by a Barcelona-based appeals court on Friday, clearing Alves of charges related to an alleged rape in a Spanish nightclub in December 2022.

Alves, who previously played for Barcelona, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain, had been sentenced to four years and six months in prison in February 2024 after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman. The former Brazil international consistently denied any wrongdoing throughout the trial.

Court Ruling and Key Grounds

The four-judge panel unanimously ruled that the evidence presented during the trial failed to override Alves’s presumption of innocence. The court noted significant discrepancies between the plaintiff’s testimony and video footage captured prior to the incident, raising doubts about the credibility of the allegations.

The trial marked a high-profile test of Spain’s 2022 “Only Yes Means Yes” law, which made clear that consent must be explicitly given in sexual encounters.

Bail and Imprisonment Timeline

Dani Alves was initially detained in January 2023 and remained behind bars until March 2024. He was granted release on bail after paying $1.2 million, surrendering his passports, and facing restrictions due to concerns he might flee the country.

Prosecutors had sought to increase Alves's prison sentence to nine years, while the victim’s legal team demanded a 12-year sentence. Following the appeals court's decision, prosecutors retain the option to escalate the case to the Spanish Supreme Court in Madrid.

Background and Career

At the time of his arrest, Alves was signed with Mexican club Pumas, which immediately terminated his contract after the allegations surfaced. Alves, now 41, is one of the most decorated footballers of his generation, winning multiple titles with elite clubs and national honours with Brazil, including two Copa Americas and an Olympic gold medal.

The ruling has reopened public debate on the interpretation and enforcement of Spain’s sexual consent laws.

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