Ex-Barcelona star Dani Alves handed lengthy prison sentence

Liam Corless
Alves has been detained since January 2023

Dani Alves has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of sexual assault in Barcelona.

He was convicted by Catalonia’s top court after an incident at a nightclub in Barcelona on New Year’s Eve in 2022.

The female victim said that Alves had prevented her from leaving a toilet cubicle in a VIP area of the club, before slapping her, insulting her, and forcing her to engage in sexual relations with him.

Alves had originally denied having any sexual contact with the victim, before later claiming that he had engaged in consensual sexual relations with her.

As well as handing Alves a custodial sentence, the court ordered the 40-year-old to pay 150,000 euros to the victim.

Alves has been detained since his arrest in January 2023, with repeated bail requests denied as he was deemed a flight risk.

Brazil does not grant extradition requests in any case, so had Alves returned to his home country, Catalonia would not have had the authority to bring him back to face trial.

The prosecution had pushed for a nine-year custodial sentence, while the victim’s lawyers had pushed for Alves to be handed a 12-year sentence.

Alves’ legal team pushed for his acquittal or, failing that, a one-year custodial sentence plus a 50,000 euro fine.

Alves’ lawyer confirmed their intention to appeal the sentence.

About The Author

Liam has 10 years' experience in journalism, having previously operated as the Manchester Evening News' associate football editor, and as an editor for the Daily Mirror, the Daily Express and the Daily Star.