Spanish court reverses Dani Alves’ sexual assault conviction ruling.

The highest court in Catalonia, Spain, announced on Friday that it has overturned the conviction of Brazilian footballer Dani Alves for sexual assault after reviewing his appeal. The court found that the initial ruling had “inconsistencies and contradictions.”

Alves was previously found guilty in February last year of raping a woman in the men’s restroom of a Barcelona nightclub in 2022, resulting in a prison sentence of four and a half years.

In its decision to reverse the conviction, the Catalan high court indicated that the testimony of the alleged victim was not reliable, particularly with respect to details that could be corroborated through video evidence, stating “it explicitly indicates that her account does not align with reality.”

Alves had been released on bail of 1 million euros (approximately $1.08 million) while he awaited the outcome of the appeal. He is now free to leave the country after the appeal court lifted all restrictions on his travel.

Neither Ester Garcia, the legal representative for the alleged victim, nor Ines Guardiola, Alves’ lawyer, responded immediately to requests for comment.

This decision may still be challenged before Spain’s Supreme Court.