After a long legal battle, former Barcelona footballer Dani Alves has been acquitted of rape charges by the Catalan High Court, overturning the four-year prison sentence he was initially handed.
The shocking decision comes after an appeal process that saw both public and private prosecutors pushing for a longer sentence, only for the court to ultimately rule in Alves’ favor.
A Dramatic Turn in the Case
Alves was convicted last year after a three-day trial, where three judges found him guilty of sexually assaulting a 23-year-old woman at a Catalan nightclub.
The prosecution had sought a nine-year sentence, while the complainant’s private legal team argued for 12 years behind bars.
However, today’s court ruling dismissed those appeals entirely and cleared Alves of all charges.
The decision was outlined in a 101-page written judgment, which emphasized that the presumption of innocence had not been surpassed.
This ruling nullifies all previous legal restrictions placed on Alves, including his bail conditions and travel restrictions.
The Evidence That Led to Acquittal
One of the major turning points in Alves’ appeal was the court’s reassessment of the evidence.
The judges concluded that the complainant was an “unreliable witness”, citing contradictions in her statements and discrepancies in the original trial’s legal assessment.
Video footage and DNA evidence reportedly challenged her version of events, leading the appeal court to overturn the conviction.
The appeal judges also criticized the original trial for confusing credibility with reliability, stating that personal belief in an accuser’s testimony does not equate to irrefutable evidence.
The ruling reinforced that presumption of innocence must be upheld unless overwhelming proof dictates otherwise.
Alves’ Reaction to His Freedom
Since posting a €1 million (£850,000) bail last year, Alves had been out of prison under strict conditions, including surrendering his passport and checking in at court every Friday.
With today’s ruling, all precautionary measures against him have been lifted.
After his release from prison, Alves reportedly spent his first night of freedom ordering takeaway hamburgers.
His legal team has consistently maintained his innocence, arguing that the sexual encounter was consensual and that he had no intention of harming anyone.
What Comes Next?
With the case now dismissed, Dani Alves is legally free.
However, this high-profile acquittal is bound to spark intense debate, especially given the nature of the charges and the global scrutiny surrounding sexual assault cases in sports.
As of now, neither Alves nor his accuser has made any public statements regarding the court’s final decision.
This case is yet another reminder of the complexities of legal battles involving high-profile athletes—and the intense media attention that follows every twist and turn.