Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-02-22 09:37:49
Former Brazilian international Dani Alves has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison by a Spanish court after being found guilty of raping a young woman at a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022. This decision came despite Alves denying the allegations of sexual assault.
The victim accused Alves of raping her in a bathroom at a Barcelona nightclub, and the court ruled that there was sufficient evidence beyond the victim’s testimony to prove the rape. As a result, Alves was ordered to pay the victim 150,000 euros. Despite admitting to having had sex with the woman, he insisted that it was consensual.
Both state prosecutors and a private prosecutor on behalf of the victim sought harsh sentences for Alves, with the state prosecutor requesting a nine-year jail term and the private prosecutor seeking a 12-year prison sentence. Ultimately, the court sentenced Alves to four and a half years in prison, as well as ordering him to stay away from the victim for nine and a half years and pay her the aforementioned sum of 150,000 euros, along with covering the costs of the case.
Alves, widely regarded as one of the greatest full-backs of all time, holds the record for the most senior titles won by a professional footballer, with a total of 43. His career began at Bahia in 2001 before moving to Sevilla, where he enjoyed a successful six-year spell, winning two UEFA Cups and the Copa del Rey.
In 2008, Alves transferred to Barcelona for a fee of €32.5 million, becoming the third-most expensive defender at the time. During his time at Barcelona, he won two UEFA Champions League titles, five La Liga titles, and two more Supercopa de España titles, in addition to other domestic and international trophies.
After leaving Barcelona in 2016, Alves joined Juventus on a free transfer and won the Serie A title and Coppa Italia during his single season with the club. The following year, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain and helped the team win multiple domestic titles during his time there.
Alves’ extensive and successful career in professional football makes his conviction and subsequent sentencing to prison all the more shocking and has undoubtedly tarnished his reputation within the sport. Despite his accomplishments on the field, this conviction will undoubtedly cast a shadow over his legacy in the sport.
