Dani Alves' Rape Conviction Overturned by Spanish Court

Dani Alves, the former Brazilian football star, has successfully appealed his rape conviction, with a Spanish appeals court overturning the ruling due to significant discrepancies in the evidence presented during the original trial. Alves was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in February 2024 for an incident that occurred in December 2022 at a Barcelona nightclub. The court found that the plaintiff's testimony was insufficient and inconsistent, particularly when compared to video evidence and DNA test results. This case was notable as it was the first high-profile trial following Spain's 2022 'only yes means yes' law regarding consent. While the prosecution had sought a longer sentence, the court's decision means Alves is acquitted and has been released on bail. It remains uncertain whether he will attempt to return to professional football following the overturning of his conviction.