Former Brazilian international footballer Dani Alves is set to be released from jail on bail while he appeals his rape conviction, according to a statement from a Barcelona court on Wednesday.
The decision follows a request from Alves’ lawyer, who argued that the 40-year-old had already served a quarter of his four-and-a-half-year sentence in pre-trial detention since his arrest in January 2023.
In its ruling, the court granted Alves “provisional release” upon payment of a bail amounting to one million euros. However, certain conditions were imposed, including the surrender of his Spanish and Brazilian passports, remaining in Spain, and appearing in court on a weekly basis.
Despite opposition from public prosecutors, who raised concerns about the risk of flight, the court approved Alves’ release pending appeal.
Alves, one of the most decorated footballers in the world, previously played for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. He was convicted of raping a young woman at a nightclub in Barcelona in December 2022, and he was sentenced on February 22. His legal team promptly filed an appeal against the conviction.
During the trial, the victim testified behind a screen to protect her identity, recounting how Alves had allegedly forced her into having sex in a private bathroom of the nightclub despite her pleas. Prosecutors described the incident as causing her “anguish and terror.”
In defense, Alves’ lawyers argued that there was “sexual tension” between Alves and the victim while they were dancing at the nightclub. However, the court, in its 61-page decision, emphasized that such tension did not imply consent to any subsequent actions.
The case has garnered significant attention due to Alves’ stature in the football world and the serious nature of the allegations against him.
