Barcelona Football Club made the decision this week to officially revoke Dani Alves’s standing as a ‘club legend’ in the wake of the veteran footballer’s conviction and sentencing for the sexual assault of a 23-year-old woman. Alves was found guilty by a Spanish court last week of raping the woman in the bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for the criminal act.

In an official statement, Barcelona expressed condemnation of Alves’s behavior that led to his conviction. “The legal process has shown definitively that Dani Alves engaged in deplorable criminal sexual behavior that the club cannot excuse or tolerate, given our deep commitment to protecting the well-being and rights of all people in society,” the statement read.

Alves had enjoyed a lengthy and successful playing career with Barcelona, serving as a stalwart defender and helping the club win a vast array of trophies, including three UEFA Champions League titles. He departed the club initially in 2016 after eight seasons but later returned for a short second stint.

However, Barcelona made clear that his past club achievements would not override the seriousness of forcibly assaulting a woman. “While Dani contributed greatly to our sporting successes in the past, his actions off the field now far outweigh anything he accomplished professionally. We must stand firmly against sexual violence against women,” the club said.

In addition to revoking his status as a club legend, Barcelona also offered support and expressed solidarity with the victim of Alves’s assault. “No person should suffer such a terrible trauma. We offer any support we can reasonably provide and fully stand behind [the victim’s] right to justice,” Barcelona’s leadership stated.

Alves, who is currently 39 years old, will serve his 4.5-year sentence in a Spanish prison. The court also mandated an additional five years of supervised probation after release, along with a fine of €150,000 to be paid to the victim as restitution. He continues to deny the charges levied against him, but the evidence was found to be conclusively guilty.