The decision of the Superior Court of the region of Catalonia, Spain, to unanimously revoke the conviction of former soccer player Daniel Alves for sexual assault, on Friday (28), is another turnaround of a lawsuit began in 2022.
The court accepted an appeal made by the defense of Alves and, in the decision this Friday, speaks of “lack of reliability in the testimony of the complainant” and “insufficient evidence”.
In February last year, the former Brazilian team player had been sentenced to four and a half years in prison by the Barcelona Court.
The prosecution involves a 23 -year -old woman who, according to the court, was abused by Alves in the bathroom of a disco in Barcelona at dawn on December 31, 2022.
Understand the turnarounds of the case, which may still have new developments, as the decision is appealed to the Supreme Court of Spain.
December 31, 2022 – Sexual aggression
Just before 4am, Daniel Alves asks a waiter to invite three women to the VIP area of the Sutton nightclub in Barcelona.
According to images collected from security cameras, the group dances for about 15 minutes, until Alves invites one of them to a suite with a bathroom, where the aggression would have occurred.
After 16 minutes inside the bathroom, the former player leaves the place, followed by the girl. On the way to the exit, and accompanied by her friends, she begins to cry.
Welcoming by the nightclub security team, the woman reports the alleged aggression and the nightclub begins the protocol for cases of sexual violence.
Police are called, reaps the woman’s testimony, which is then sent to a hospital for exams.
January 2, 2023 – Investigation
The complainant confirms to the police his initial statement: who entered the bathroom voluntarily but regretted, and Alves did not let her leave.
The player would have tried to force her to have oral sex and then to be assaulted and penetrated violently.
The police gather testimonies, analyze security cameras and reap biological samples. They then prepare to hold the prison of the former athlete, who was returning from Mexico.
January 20, 2023 – Prison and contradictions
After being arrested, Alves contradicts himself at least three times: First he says he did not know the young woman; After they were together in the bathroom, but nothing happened; And finally, she tried to practice oral sex in him.
The judge highlights these contradictions and the firmness of the victim’s report.
Given the “signs much more than enough” of crime and the risk of escape, she decides to maintain prison, without bail.
On the same day, Mexico’s Pumas Club, terminates the player’s contract.
April 17, 2023 – Penetration
At the player’s request, he is taken to a new statement and again changes his version of the facts, admitting for the first time that there was penetration – this, after the police found his semen samples inside the woman’s vagina.
But he says there was consent and lied that his wife, model Joana Sanz, did not know her infidelity.
June 21, 2023 – Interview
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, Alves says he has the “quiet conscience”.
He does not apologize to the woman, but says he forgives her for distorting the facts between them.
“What happened inside is something that only she and I know,” says the player.
July 31, 2023 – Indict
Judge Anna Marín ends the investigation and sues Alves by concluding that there were enough evidence of a crime.
It imposes bail of 150 thousand euros (about $ 900,000 at the time) to cover a possible compensation to the victim and warns that if he does not pay, his assets can be pledged.
November 23, 2023 – nine years
The Spanish Public Prosecution Service asks the penalty of nine years in prison for a crime of sexual assault with penetration (equivalent crime in Brazil to rape) and the payment of compensation of 150,000 euros to the victim for “physical and psychological consequences” and the moral damages suffered by the young woman.
The defense of the complainant increases the request to 12 years in prison.
January 3, 2024 – Video
A video montage containing images of the woman involved in the case appears on social networks.
He is shared by people close to Alves, including his mother. The video tries to discredit the young woman’s version and also reveals her full name, hitherto preserved.
Women’s lawyer Ester García denounces the fact, and a court of Barcelona opens an investigation.
February 5 to 7, 2024 – Judgment
The trial is held on February 5, 6 and 7.
The prosecutor and the victim’s lawyer asked to be made at closed doors, but the request is rejected, and the magistrates decide that only the complainant’s testimony will be safeguarded.
In the last of the three sessions, the prosecutor, Elisabeth Jiménez, defends the victim’s “absolute credibility” in the face of the various versions presented by the player.
February 22, 2024 – Judgment
Daniel Alves is sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison and paying compensation of 150,000 euros for sexual assault to the 23 -year -old in the bathrooms of the Sutton nightclub in Barcelona.
Magistrates of the 21st Section believe in the woman’s account of the facts and find it proven that the former Barcelona player penetrated her without consent.
March 28, 2025 – acquittal
The Division of Appeals of the Catalonia Superior Court of Justice unanimously cancel the sentence that condemned the player for sexual assault.
The Court accepts an appeal presented by Alves’s defense and, in the decision, speaks of “lack of reliability in the complainant’s testimony” and “insufficient evidence”.
The decision generates criticism in Spain and Brazil. There is still appeal.
This text was originally published here.
