Ex-Barcelona Footballer Dani Alves Has Rape Conviction Annulled
A Spanish appeals court overturned Friday former Brazil international footballer Dani Alves' rape conviction, arguing his trial was marked by "shortcomings" and "inaccuracies". Alves was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail in February last year for raping a young woman in the VIP bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub on December 31, 2022. The 41-year-old, who won the Champions League three-times with Barcelona, was released from jail last March pending his appeal after he posted the one million euros ($1.1million) bail set by the court. The appeals court said its four judges had "unanimously" accepted the player's appeal and "annulled" his conviction,.