*Could be triggering for some readers. Read at your own discretion*
On December 31, 2022, famous Barcelona soccer player Dani Alves sexually assaulted a 23-year-old woman in the bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub. Many fans were shocked by this incident. As a beloved player to most, many felt betrayed by him.
This sense of betrayal, shock, and uncertainty will last longer than the four years and six months in prison that Alves was sentenced to in the Barcelona High Court. When Alves was taken to the court after the victim filed a complaint, he kept a firm stance and fiercely denied the rape accusations against him. He testified, “I am not that kind of man.” However, in several other comments made by Alves, it was proven that he did rape the victim. In the end, along with his prison sentence, he was convicted under a new sexual liberty law (“Only Yes is Yes” Law) and was ordered by the court to pay 150,000 euros ($162,000) to the victim. He was also banned from approaching the victim’s home or workplace and from communicating with her for nine years. On top of this, the Barcelona soccer team dropped him because they did not want to sponsor a criminal.
In addition, more recent news has shown that a loophole in the “Only Yes is Yes” Law allowed a Spanish court to rule that the ex-Barcelona soccer player can be released from jail after serving about a quarter of his sentence and paying €1 million ($1.1 million). He has to relinquish his Brazilian and Spanish passports and fulfill an obligation to appear before the court weekly.
Many people believe that allowing Alves to get bailed will open the path for many other men to victimize women and get away with it. The victim’s lawyer, Ester Garcia, agrees with them, saying, “To me, it’s a scandal that they let a person know [that they] can get a million euros in no time [and] walk free.” Alves benefited from this new law, which carried a lower minimum sentence.
Several other celebrities worldwide have probably committed crimes like Dani Alves, but not all were caught. However, their reputations could suffer terrible hits if discovered.
Alves had a stellar reputation. He played more than 400 games for Barcelona, won six league titles, and three Champions Leagues. He was also part of the 2022 Brazil World Cup team. There’s a reason Lionel Messi called him the greatest full-back in the world. Yet, when news about this incident got out, his reputation suffered a big hit, and he lost millions of fans worldwide.
To conclude, the ex-Barcelona soccer player Dani Alves received justice for his terrible act of sexual assault. He was one of many celebrities who has been stopped from committing more terrible acts, or avoiding accountability. However, many other celebrities worldwide have yet to realize their mistakes and learn from them. These elusive celebrities could find a way to hide or escape from their mistakes due to their amount of money and resources. However, the government must stay vigilant in bringing justice to those who committed sexual assault, no matter what their status is.
Writer’s Note: If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, please report it to a trusted adult, the police, or go to the hospital for help. Being a victim of sexual assault is nothing to be ashamed of, and you are not to blame for this. National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
Sources:
Dani Alves: Ex-Brazil player to be freed on €1m bail after rape conviction
Soccer star Dani Alves is found guilty of rape and sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison
The Trial of Dani Alves: Impact on Reputation and Public Opinion
Dani Alves seemed like one of the good guys – now we know he wasn’t | Soccer | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/16/spanish-pm-apologises-loophole-sexual-consent-law
