Sentenced to four and a half years in prison for rape, ex-Brazilian star Dani Alves remains free while awaiting his appeal judgment

Dani Alves, a footballer in turmoil. MAXPPP – Quique Garcia

The prosecution and the civil party appealed his sentence of four and a half years' imprisonment, deeming it too low. 

Less than a month after the release of Dani Alves, the Barcelona court on Wednesday rejected the appeals of the prosecution and the civil party against the release of the footballer, convicted of rape at four and a half years in prison.

The Barcelona court announced in a press release"reject the appeals presented against the decision granting bail to detainee Daniel Alves".

The ex-star of FC Barcelona, ​​​​Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain had obtained this release upon payment of a deposit of ' a million euros, a sum that took him five days to raise.

A sentence of four and a half years in prison

He was released on March 25 from Brians 2 prison in San Esteban Sasroviras, 40 kilometers northwest of Barcelona (northeast of Spain), and had not made any statement. Accused of the rape of a young woman on the night of December 30 to 31, 2022 in a nightclub in Barcelona, ​​Dani Alves was placed in pre-trial detention upon his arrest a few days later.

In February 2024, he was sentenced to four and a half years in prison and therefore remained behind bars. His lawyer, who appealed this conviction, had filed a request for release, while both the prosecution and the civil party were opposed, considering that the risk of flight was significant.

Deposit of one million euros

The Barcelona court finally gave the green light to this release pending the appeal trial upon payment of a deposit of one million of euros, the withdrawal of his two Spanish and Brazilian passports and the ban on leaving Spain.

He is also prohibited from approaching within one kilometer of the victim's home or workplace and from coming into contact with her. The player must report to the Barcelona court every Friday. The prosecution and the civil party also appealed his sentence of four and a half years' imprisonment, considering it too low.

During his trial, Alves, aged 40, assured that the sexual relationship was consensual, but his defense had been weakened by his numerous changes of versions, pinned down by the prosecution.