Dani Alves’ rape conviction is overturned by a Spanish court

Brazilian soccer player Dani Alves’ rape conviction was overturned by the top court in Spain’s Catalonia province on Friday, citing anomalies and irregularities in the case against him.

The 41-year-old defender was given a 4-1/2-year prison sentence after being found guilty last year of raping a woman in the bathroom of a nightclub in Barcelona in 2022.

Daniel Alves is overjoyed. It is proven that he is innocent. Ines Guardiola, the former Barcelona, PSG, and Juventus player’s attorney, told RAC1 radio that justice had been served.

“Explicitly indicating that what she recounted does not correspond to reality,” the Catalan top court ruled in its appeal finding, citing the accuser’s testimony as unreliable about aspects that could be objectively checked through video.

“The inadequacies of the evidence lead to the conclusion that the standard required by the presumption of innocence has not been met,” according to it, citing “a series of gaps, inaccuracies, inconsistencies and contradictions concerning the facts, the legal assessment and its consequences” .

Totally free

While awaiting the appeal, Alves had already been released from prison on bail of one million euros ($1.1 million).

With the lifting of all limitations, including a travel ban and restraining order, as well as the payment of compensation, the Catalan court has allowed him to depart the country.

The court concluded that the alleged victim “voluntarily went to the bathroom area for the purpose of being with the defendant in a more intimate space” and rejected the alleged victim’s claim that she accompanied Alves into the restroom out of concern that his friends would follow them.

It further stated that there was no way to determine from CCTV footage whether or not she gave her assent for the ensuing encounter.

Requests for comment from the accuser’s attorney, Ester Garcia, were not immediately answered.

The office of the regional prosecutor chose not to comment.

There is still time to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.