Dani Alves Acquitted; Court Criticizes Original Ruling

Former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves has been acquitted of a rape conviction by a Spanish appeals court, which cited 'insufficient evidence' and significant inconsistencies in the original case. Alves was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in February 2024 for allegedly assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022, but he maintained his innocence throughout the trial. The appeals court criticized the original ruling for not adequately scrutinizing the complainant's testimony against available evidence, such as video footage and forensic data, which supported Alves' defense. The case was notable as it was the first high-profile trial since Spain reformed its sexual consent laws in 2022. Following the appeal, all restrictions on Alves, including a travel ban, were lifted, though the decision might still be contested in Spain's Supreme Court. Alves' lawyer expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating that justice had been served.