The verdict in the Dani Alves case has been reached. The former FC Barcelona professional received a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence for sexual aggression
On Thursday, the verdict was announced by the court of section 12 of the Audiencia de Barcelona. The trial ended on February 7 after three long days of hearings, and 15 days later the verdict is now final. In addition to the prison sentence, Dani Alves received a further five years on probation, must stay away from the victim for nine years and six months and pay 150,000 euros in damages.
Dani Alves has been in custody since January 20, 2023. The court considered it proven that the Brazilian sexually assaulted a woman in a private room at a nightclub in Barcelona on the night of December 30/31, 2022. The former professional had initially denied any sexual contact and later claimed that the relationships were consensual. The prosecutor stood by her statement.
The public prosecutor had demanded nine years in prison for the 40-year-old, the private prosecutor the maximum of twelve years. The defense initially requested an acquittal and then a reduced sentence, which was based on Alves’ high alcohol consumption on the night of the crime. Alves’ wife had testified in court that her husband had come home very drunk.
Multiple appeal options for Alves
However, the case is not yet completely closed. Following the decision by the Supreme Court of Barcelona, the defense can still appeal to the Supreme Court of Catalonia and then to the Spanish Supreme Court. So far, the court has systematically rejected a provisional release, as there is a high risk that the player will go into hiding using his assets. Furthermore, there is no extradition treaty with his home country of Brazil.
According to Marca, more than 270 journalists were accredited for the three sessions of the court in Barcelona and were able to follow the trial via closed-circuit television. More than two dozen witnesses and experts were heard. Two of the young woman’s companions as well as police officers, doctors and employees of the nightclub testified that the young woman was “in shock” after the incident.
In Spain, the principle of “Solo Si es Si”, i.e. “Only a yes is a yes”, has applied since May 2022. Only clear consent from both sides legalizes sexual contact, everything else is rape
