In a verdict that has sent shockwaves through the world of football, former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star Dani Alves has been sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for sexual assault.
Alves was found guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in a nightclub in Barcelona on the night of December 30-31, 2022. The court found that Alves had forced the woman into a sexual encounter against her will, despite her repeated protests.
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The verdict was handed down after a two-day trial in Barcelona. Alves, who had been in pre-trial detention since January 2023, maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.
The court ordered Alves to pay the victim €150,000 in compensation and banned him from contacting her for nine years. He will also be subject to five years of supervised release after his prison term ends.
The case has drawn widespread attention in Spain and beyond, and has raised questions about the treatment of sexual assault victims in the justice system.
Alves’ lawyers have said they will appeal the verdict.
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