Dani Alves trial: Ex-Brazil player guilty of nightclub rape

Former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves has been found guilty by a Spanish court of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub. He has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison, along with five years’ probation. Alves denied the allegations, but the court ruled against him.

His lawyer plans to appeal the verdict, while the victim’s lawyer welcomed the decision, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the truth and the victim’s suffering.

Alves, known for his illustrious football career, had argued that his intoxication should mitigate his sentence, but the court disagreed, stating that alcohol did not excuse his actions.

The court detailed the assault, noting evidence beyond the victim’s testimony and highlighting Alves’s forceful behavior despite her protests.

Alves has been in pre-trial detention since January 2023 and has changed his testimony multiple times. Despite his denial, the court found evidence supporting the victim’s account.

Alves’s successful football career, which includes multiple league titles and international appearances, contrasts starkly with this conviction for a serious crime.

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