Former Barcelona and Brazil defender, Dani Alves has been cleared of rape allegations by a Spanish Court.
The appeals division of Catalonia’s High Court of Justice unanimously upheld the appeal by the 41-year-old and acquitted him, saying that the case against him had inconsistencies and contradiction.
Recall that Alves was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in February 2024 after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022.
The former full-back, who earned 126 international caps, was released on bail in March 2024 while his appeal was heard by a higher court.
During the trial on Friday, the victim, who testified behind a screen to protect her identity, said that Alves had violently forced her to have sex despite begging him to let her go, causing her anguish and terror.
The Brazilian player initially claimed that he never met the woman but later said that they had consensual sex.
READ MORE: Ex-Barcelona Star Dani Alves Bags 54 Months Jail Term For Rape
His lawyers argued during the trial the victim had been “glued” to the player while dancing at the nightclub.
Meanwhile, the court ruled that the complainant’s argument that she went with Alves into the bathroom for fear that his friends might follow them did not appear reasonable.
It concluded that the alleged victim instead “voluntarily went to the bathroom area for the purpose of being with the defendant in a more intimate space”.
The Catalan court also lifted all restrictions on Alves, including a travel ban and restraining order. However, the decision can still be appealed to the Supreme Court.
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