Dani Alves Cleared of Rape Conviction by Spanish Appeals Court

Dani Alves' rape conviction has been reversed by a Spanish appeals court, sparking mixed reactions from women's rights advocates and soccer fans.

A Spanish court has overturned Dani Alves' rape conviction, citing inconsistencies and contradictions in the case against him. The 41-year-old Brazilian defender was convicted last year of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub restroom in 2022 and sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison. However, Alves' lawyer, Ines Guardiola, expressed relief and happiness at the appeal ruling, saying “Dani Alves is very happy. He is innocent, that is demonstrated. Justice has spoken.”

The case has been highly publicized in Spain, where women's rights are a sensitive topic, particularly in the sports world. This is especially true in the wake of the scandal surrounding former football chief Luis Rubiales' unwanted kissing of national team player Jenni Hermoso in 2023. The four-judge Catalan high court unanimously ruled to overturn the conviction, stating that the accuser's testimony lacked reliability and contradicted video evidence, “explicitly indicating that what she recounted does not correspond to reality.”

Dani Alves has won his appeal against a sexual assault conviction after a Spanish court overturned the ruling. pic.twitter.com/nbp54ncV76

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 28, 2025

It's worth noting that Alves was released from prison in March 2024 while awaiting his appeal, and his contract with Mexican club Pumas was terminated immediately after his arrest. The overturning of his conviction is a significant development in a case that has sparked widespread debate and discussion in Spain.

A court in Spain has overturned the conviction of Brazilian soccer player Dani Alves, who had been found guilty of sexual assault. In its ruling, the court cited “inadequacies of the evidence” that led to the conclusion that the standard required by the presumption of innocence had not been met. The court specifically noted “a series of gaps, inaccuracies, inconsistencies and contradictions concerning the facts, the legal assessment and its consequences.”

🚨🇧🇷 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 | Dani Alves has been acquitted of a crime of sexual assault. The court considers that the testimony of the young woman is not enough to uphold the conviction of the former footballer, reports @diarioas. pic.twitter.com/WaZz9l7sy7

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) March 28, 2025

As a result of the overturned conviction, Alves is now free to leave Spain, and a travel ban, restraining order, and compensation payment have been lifted. Alves had previously been released from prison on a 1 million euro ($1.1 million) bail while awaiting the appeal.

The court's ruling also questioned the alleged victim's account of the events, specifically her claim that she accompanied Alves to the restroom out of fear that his friends might follow them. The court found this argument unconvincing, instead concluding that she “voluntarily went to the bathroom area for the purpose of being with the defendant in a more intimate space.” Furthermore, the court noted that CCTV footage did not provide any evidence of whether she consented to the subsequent interaction or not.

Dani Alves' Rape Conviction Overturned by Spanish Court

The Spanish court's decision to overturn Dani Alves' rape conviction has sparked mixed reactions. Neither the regional prosecutor's office nor the accuser's lawyer has commented on the ruling, which can still be appealed to Spain's Supreme Court. Some Spaniards have expressed trust in the judges' decision, while others have raised concerns about the implications for women accusing powerful men of sexual misconduct.

Justice Minister Felix Bolanos emphasized the importance of respecting the court's ruling, stating that he cannot reassess the facts already reviewed by the judges. However, he also acknowledged the shifting societal attitudes towards sexist behavior, saying, “Spanish society no longer tolerates sexist vexatious behaviour and women are losing their fear and denouncing it.”

Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz expressed solidarity with Alves' accuser, saying, “All my support to the victim. I'm concerned about the re-victimisation of the victim, who is suffering a lot. Justice needs to walk hand in hand with women and provide certainty and security.” In contrast, Irene Montero, the former equality minister, criticized the ruling as “patriarchal justice” and reiterated the importance of consent, saying, “Only yes means yes.”