FC Barcelona Legend Dani Alves Convicted Of Rape, Sentenced To 4 1/2 Years In Prison

Former FC Barcelona and Brazilian national team star Dani Alves received a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of rape.

In December 2022, Alves was at a nightclub in Barcelona when he and a woman started dancing together. Shortly thereafter, he invited the woman (who remains unnamed) into the bathroom, the only place in the facility where there were no security cameras.

Once in the bathroom, Alves asked the women to perform sex acts against her consent. When she said no, the court found evidence that the woman did not consent to do anything sexual with him, and that Alves then raped her.

A three-judge panel at the Barcelona Provincial Court convicted the 40-year-old and sentenced him to four years and six months in prison, the minimum for these types of cases. Additionally, Alves must pay the victim 150,000 euros ($162,000), not visit her home or place of work, and not make contact with her for nine years.

"We are satisfied, because this verdict recognizes what we have always known, that the victim told the truth and that she has suffered," David Sáenz, a member of the victim’s legal team, said.

Spain passed legislation popularly known as the "only yes means yes" act, which means that only a clear expression of a person’s desires can allow for sex to not be considered rape. Irene Montero, the former equality minister who championed this act, was pleased by the ruling.

"The sentence against Dani Alves clearly establishes that he committed sexual assault because the victim did not consent. It is the result of the feminist fight for the right to sexual freedom and for putting consent at the center," she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

During the trial, Alves said he could not have committed the act because he’s "not that type of man." His legal team plans on appealing the ruling in the hopes of reducing his sentence.

Alves won nine league titles in Spain, Italy, and France (six with Barcelona), two Copa América titles, three Champions League titles, and an Olympic gold medal.