Dani Alves, a Brazilian footballer, was found guilty and sentenced to four and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022. On Thursday, the Catalan Supreme Court ordered Alves, who had previously claimed that the sex was consensual, to pay the victim 150,000 euros ($163,000).
"The sentence considers that it has been proven that the victim did not consent and that there is evidence, in addition to the testimony of the plaintiff, to consider the rape proven," said the Provincial Court of Barcelona in a statement. Alves could face a nine-year prison term as requested by the prosecutor. It's possible to challenge the decision through an appeal. The 40-year-old ex-Barcelona defender has been in custody since January last year. This case has gained significant attention, not just due to Alves' fame, but also because gender violence has become a prominent subject in Spanish public discussions.
Since the implementation of a law in 2022 that made consent a crucial factor in sexual assault cases and raised the minimum prison sentence for assaults involving violence, this trial has gained significant attention in Spain.
"We are satisfied because the sentence recognises what we've been saying all along that the victim was telling the truth and that she suffered," lawyer David Saenz told reporters outside the courthouse, adding that his team would still assess whether the sentence is proportionate to the gravity of the offence.
Alves won over 40 titles for Brazil and clubs such as Barcelona, Sevilla, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain. His former employer, the Mexican club Pumas UNAM, fired him after his arrest.
(Inputs from agencies)
ⒸCopyright 2024. All Rights Reserved Powered by Vygr Media
