Overview

• Dani Alves' four-and-a-half-year prison sentence for rape was annulled by a Barcelona appeals court on March 28, 2025.
• The court highlighted contradictions in the accuser's testimony and a lack of objective evidence, including surveillance footage that conflicted with her account.
• The decision does not confirm Alves' version of events but reflects the insufficiency of evidence to uphold his conviction.
• A separate appeal by the prosecution seeking to increase Alves' sentence to nine years was also rejected by the court.
• The case has reignited public debate in Spain over systemic issues in addressing sexual violence, with feminist groups criticizing the judicial system.