Former Barcelona and Brazil star Dani Alves has had his four-and-a-half-year rape conviction overturned by a Spanish appeals court. The 40-year-old defender, once considered one of football’s greatest right-backs, was initially found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022, but today’s decision has thrown the case wide open once again.
The Barcelona Provincial Court announced its ruling early Thursday morning, citing “insufficient evidence” to maintain the conviction that had seen Alves imprisoned since January 2023. In their 78-page decision, the judges highlighted inconsistencies in the accuser’s testimony and questioned the reliability of certain forensic evidence that had been pivotal in the original trial.
This court finds reasonable doubt exists regarding the events as previously determined,” the ruling stated. “While we do not declare the defendant innocent, we cannot maintain the conviction based on the current evidence presented.”
Legal experts were quick to note that this does not constitute a full acquittal. The prosecution retains the right to appeal to Spain’s Supreme Court, and sources close to the case suggest they are likely to do so. Meanwhile, Alves was released from Brians 2 prison just hours after the decision, though he remains under judicial supervision with travel restrictions.
The original conviction in February 2024 had seemed to mark a watershed moment in Spanish football, coming just months after the Luis Rubiales scandal and appearing to signal a tougher stance on sexual misconduct in the sport. Alves had been one of the most high-profile players ever convicted of such charges in Spain, with his initial sentence including five years of supervised release and a €150,000 compensation order to the victim.
Today’s development has reignited fierce debate. Women’s rights groups expressed outrage outside the courthouse, with protesters carrying signs reading “Justice Failed Again” and “No Means No.” The organization Women’s Link International called the reversal “a devastating blow to victims’ willingness to come forward.
Conversely, Alves’ legal team and supporters celebrated what they called a “long overdue correction.” Defense lawyer Inés Guardiola told reporters: “Dani has maintained his innocence from day one. Today, the justice system recognized what we’ve always known – this conviction should never have happened.
The incident in question occurred at Sutton nightclub in Barcelona’s upscale Eixample district, where Alves was allegedly seen on CCTV entering a bathroom with a 23-year-old woman for 47 seconds before she emerged visibly distressed. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on her testimony about what occurred in that private space, along with biological evidence and witness accounts.
During the original trial, Alves changed his story multiple times – first denying any sexual contact, then admitting consensual relations after DNA evidence surfaced. This inconsistency badly damaged his credibility with the initial judges, who noted in their verdict that his “behavior demonstrated a clear awareness of guilt.”
However, the appeals court found that the lower court had placed too much weight on these changing statements while overlooking potential contradictions in the accuser’s version of events. They also questioned whether the psychological harm claimed by the woman could be definitively linked to that specific encounter.
Once celebrated as football’s most decorated player with 43 major trophies including three Champions Leagues and two Copa Américas, Alves saw his legacy unravel almost overnight following his arrest. Sponsors dropped him, Barcelona severed ties, and his contract with Mexican club Pumas UNAM was terminated immediately after the initial charges were filed.
Prison life reportedly took a heavy toll on the normally ebullient defender. Sources close to his family described him as “a shadow of his former self” during incarceration, though he apparently maintained fitness routines and even organized football matches among inmates.
Now free but with his reputation in tatters, Alves faces an uphill battle to rebuild his life. At 40, a return to professional football seems unlikely despite his protestations of innocence. More probable are lucrative interview deals and a potential tell-all memoir as he attempts to reshape public perception.
The case has become a lightning rod for discussions about Spain’s evolving approach to sexual consent laws. In 2022, the country introduced its groundbreaking “Only Yes Means Yes” law, designed to strengthen protections against sexual violence. While Alves was prosecuted under previous legislation, his case became a de facto test of how Spanish courts handle high-profile assault claims.
Legal analyst María García explained: “This reversal doesn’t negate Spain’s progress on sexual violence legislation, but it does highlight how difficult these cases remain to prosecute. When it’s one person’s word against another’s in private settings, even with forensic evidence, convictions are fragile.”
The prosecution now has 10 days to decide whether to escalate to the Supreme Court. Given the case’s high profile and the symbolic importance of Spain’s feminist movement, many expect them to fight on.
For Alves, immediate freedom comes with strings attached. He must check in with authorities weekly, cannot contact the accuser, and is barred from leaving Spain pending any further appeals. His legal team hinted at potential defamation actions against media outlets, though most Spanish publications carefully adhered to reporting restrictions throughout the process.
The accuser’s lawyer, Ester García, gave an emotional press conference vowing to continue the fight: “We are devastated but not defeated. This is a setback, not the end. My client’s courage remains unshaken.”
As the football world digests this dramatic turn, the Alves saga continues to raise uncomfortable questions about celebrity, justice, and accountability. Whether viewed as a correction of a wrongful conviction or a failure of the legal system to protect victims, its reverberations will be felt far beyond the confines of either a Barcelona nightclub or courtroom.
One thing is certain – this is not the last chapter in a story that has come to symbolize some of society’s most complex and painful debates about power, sex, and the elusive nature of truth.
