Spanish Court Overturns Dani Alves' Rape Conviction on Appeal
Brazilian footballer Dani Alves won an appeal as a Spanish court overturned his rape conviction due to insufficient evidence. Alves, who spent 14 months in detention, now faces the possibility of further appeals to Spain's Supreme Court.
Published on March 29, 2025
Brazilian footballer Dani Alves, who was convicted in February 2024 for raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub and served 14 months in prison, has had his conviction overturned by a Spanish court. The appellate decision, issued on March 28, 2025, found that the evidence was insufficient to refute Alves’ presumption of innocence. His defense attorney, Inés Guardiola, emphasized that justice had finally been served after a lengthy three-year legal process.
Alves had been out on bail since March 2024 after paying €1 million and surrendering his passports. While prosecutors had pressed for a longer sentence and the victim’s attorney pushed for continued incarceration, the court ruled in favor of the appeal. The decision, which has sparked public debate and may be appealed to Spain's Supreme Court in Madrid, reflects significant scrutiny under Spain's 2022 sexual consent law reform, the 'only yes means yes' law.