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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Handed himself over to police in 2023</li><li>Spent 14 months behind bars</li><li>Cleared on appeal as case is closed</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Dani Alves wins appeal against rape conviction as former Barcelona & Brazil defender sees initial four-and-a-half year jail sentence overturned by Spanish court

<p>The Supreme Court in Catalunya has acquitted the 40-year-old, who has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/barcelona-brazil-dani-alves-arrested-under-suspicion-sexual-assault/blt92aa539371bfe4f9" target="_blank">maintained his innocence since handing himself over to police</a> in January 2023. He was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/former-barcelona-star-dani-alves-sentenced-four-years-jail-after-being-found-guilty-of-sexual-assault/blt072303227d66cc51" target="_blank">taken into custody</a> after allegations were made regarding events that supposedly took place at a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Alves was initially convicted of rape and sentenced to time behind bars. It took over a year for the case to reach trial, leading to the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/dani-alves-sued-former-club-6m-breaking-contract-code-of-conduct-ex-barcelona-defender-outcome-appeal-rape-conviction/blt907c7a358ea510d8" target="_blank">former Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Pumas right-back</a> spending 14 months in jail. He was originally denied bail, but has been living in the Catalan capital since <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/revealed-surprising-source-dani-alves-eur1m-bail-payment-barcelona-prison-rape-conviction/bltb658e75ddd85f0af" target="_blank">posting a reported €1 million bond</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>The prosecution had appealed against the original sentence, requesting nine years imprisonment and €150,000 in damages for the victim. Said appeal has been rejected, with Alves being cleared by the Supreme Court.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>The three magistrates presiding over the case are said to have found "a series of gaps, imprecisions, inconsistencies and contradictions in the facts, judicial assessment and their consequences." With there "insufficient evidence" to rule out Alves’ presumption of evidence, the matter is now considered to be closed.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Dani Alves wins appeal against rape conviction as former Barcelona & Brazil defender sees initial four-and-a-half year jail sentence overturned by Spanish court | Goal.com

Ex-Barcelona and Brazil defender Dani Alves has won his appeal against a rape conviction, with a four-and-a-half-year jail sentence being overturned.

Dani Alves wins appeal against rape conviction as former Barcelona &amp; Brazil defender sees initial four-and-a-half year jail sentence overturned by Spanish court