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Dani Alves in court in February
Photo: Jordi Borras / AFP
Brazilian ex-football star Dani Alves, who was sentenced to several years in prison for rape in Spain, has managed to raise bail for his provisional release. Alves has deposited the deposit of one million euros in court accounts and will now be released pending an appeal decision, the responsible court in Barcelona announced on Monday. His lawyers had previously missed several payment deadlines because Alves couldn't get the money together.
Alves was found guilty in February of raping a young woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022. In addition to a prison sentence of four and a half years, he was sentenced to a further five years of probation and a compensation payment of 150,000 euros to the victim. Alves' lawyers appealed the verdict and requested his temporary release.
Lawyer calls court’s decision “scandal”
Last Wednesday, a court in Barcelona decided to release Alves from prison on bail of one million euros. The rape victim's lawyer called the decision a "scandal" and spoke of "justice for the rich." Alves didn't get the money together until Monday.
His long-time friend and soccer star Neymar, among others, had previously refused to support him. “For us, for my family, the matter is over,” wrote Neymar’s father on Instagram, responding to Spanish media reports that he would pay one million euros so that Alves could be released pending an appeal.
Since his arrest in January 2023 due to the threat of flight, the financial situation of the ex-national player, who played for FC Barcelona for years, has deteriorated significantly. In addition to paying bail, the court ordered the 40-year-old to surrender his Spanish and Brazilian passports, not to leave Spain and to appear in court weekly.
Dani Alves has won 42 titles in his football career, making him the second most successful professional in history. Only Lionel Messi, with whom Alves played at Barcelona, has won more titles.
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