Former Brazilian football star Dani Alves has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for sexual assault by Catalonia’s top court.
The verdict stems from an incident at an upscale Barcelona nightclub on New Year’s Eve in 2022, where Alves was found guilty of raping a woman in a bathroom.
Additionally, he was ordered to pay €150,000 (£128,479.50) to the victim.
Alves, 40, was arrested in January 2023 and has been in custody since, with bail requests denied due to flight risk.
Despite denying the allegations, the court ruled against him, stating the assault occurred against the victim’s will.
Alves’ defense emphasised intoxication during the encounter, while prosecutors sought a nine-year sentence and the victim’s lawyers advocated for 12 years.
The verdict is subject to appeal, with the state prosecutor’s office considering its options.
Spain’s “only yes means yes” law, enacted in October 2022, aims to redefine sexual consent, accentuating it as pivotal in determining assault cases.
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