Former Barça and PSG footballer Daniel Alves sentenced to four and a half years in prison for rape

The 40-year-old Brazilian was convicted on Thursday by the Barcelona court for acts dating back to December 2022.

Daniel Alves, former star of FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, was sentenced on Thursday February 22 to four and a half years in prison for the rape of a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022. “The victim did not consent and there is evidence which, beyond the testimony of the complainant, allows the rape to be considered proven”said the Barcelona court in a press release.

The Brazilian was found guilty of rape for acts dating back to the night of December 30 to 31, 2022 in a Barcelona nightclub. After the complaint filed on January 2, 2023, the former right-back was placed in pre-trial detention on January 20, 2023 until the opening of his trial on February 5. According to the prosecution, the former FC Barcelona player had “a violent attitude” towards the young woman, imposing fellatio and penetration on her without contraception after having slapped her.

The Spanish prosecutor’s office had requested nine years in prison for the footballer. The defense pleaded for acquittal and focused its strategy on Alves’ high blood alcohol level. This element, considered an aggravating circumstance in France, constitutes, in the Spanish penal code (article 20), a mitigating circumstance. The plaintiff’s lawyer, for her part, asked for 12 years in prison.

Alves defended himself on the stand

“I am not a violent man”, Daniel Alves defended himself, affirming that the sexual relationship was consensual. He insisted in particular on his inebriation during his time on the stand: “I had more or less two bottles of wine and some whiskey, then gin and tonic in a bar.”

A story called into question by the prosecutor, while the Brazilian had delivered several sometimes contradictory versions: “In the images we can observe normal behavior regarding alcohol [pour quelqu’un qui se dit en état d’ébriété]. He is seen walking normally towards the VIP lounge. He was in complete control of what he was doing.”. “The victim asked him several times […] to let her go, saying she wanted to go, but the accused stopped her.”we also read in the indictment.

The sentence of four and a half years in prison is accompanied by a nine-year restraining order against the victim, and supervised release for an additional five years. Dani Alves will also have to pay 150,000 euros in compensation to the plaintiff. Both parties have the possibility to appeal this sentence, by filing an appeal with the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia.