Barcelona Star Dani Alves Acquitted of Rape Charge

Former Brazilian football star Dani Alves has had his rape conviction overturned by Spain’s Catalonia High Court, which cited inconsistencies in the original ruling.

Court Cites Inconsistencies in Original Ruling

The court found “insufficient evidence” to maintain the conviction against the former Barcelona defender, stating the original case presented “inconsistencies and contradictions.”

Alves had been sentenced to four and a half years in prison in February 2024 after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub bathroom on New Year’s Eve 2022. The footballer had consistently denied the allegations throughout his three-day trial.

Key Evidence Questioned

In their ruling, the judges noted that the victim’s testimony “differed notably” from video evidence recorded before the pair entered the bathroom where the alleged assault occurred.

Bail and Release Details

The 41-year-old former footballer had been held in prison from January 2023 until March 2024, when he paid €1 million (then £930,000) in bail to secure his release pending appeal. As part of his bail conditions, Alves surrendered both his Brazilian and Spanish passports.

With the acquittal, all travel restrictions have been lifted, allowing Alves to leave Spain if he chooses. However, the decision could still be appealed to Spain’s Supreme Court.

Legal Context

The Alves case was the first high-profile test of Spain’s 2022 sexual consent law reforms, known as the “only yes means yes” law. The legislation was introduced following public outrage over a gang rape case during the 2016 San Fermin bull-running festival in Pamplona.

The law explicitly defines consent as requiring clear, affirmative agreement, establishing that silence or passivity cannot be interpreted as consent.