A look at the accusations against Dani Alves

DANI Alves saw his football career crumble after he was found guilty of rape.

But events saw the shamed star win his fight to appeal his four-and-a-half year prison sentence from the comfort of his own home rather than a prison cell.

What was Dani Alves accused of?

Dani Alves was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a nightclub on New Year’s Eve in December 2022.

The victim claimed the former Barcelona defender raped her in a bathroom.

Alves was first arrested in January 2023 and immediately detained as he awaited trial.

Shortly after his arrest, Alves said in a Spanish TV interview: “I don’t know who this lady is.

“I don’t know her name, I don’t know her, I’ve never seen her in my life.”

However, in a June 2023 interview with Mayka Navarro, he asked his wife for forgiveness.

Alves said: “The only person I have to ask for forgiveness is my wife, Joana Sanz.

“I have already done that here in prison, but I have to do it publicly because the story is public, the offense I caused her is public and she deserves that public apology.”

Alves continued: “I went into the bathroom of the nightclub behind her.

‘I didn’t even lock the door. The door was open all the time. She could have left at any time because I spent pretty much all my time there sitting on the toilet seat.”

When was Alves found guilty?

In February 2024, Alves was found guilty of raping the woman on New Year’s Eve 2023.

Prosecutors were told by the victim that she danced with Alves and willingly entered the nightclub bathroom, but when she later wanted to, he would not let her leave.

She said he then beat her and forced her to have sexual relations against her will.

The court ordered him to pay £130,000 (150,000 euros) to the victim.

When was Dani Alves released?

Following his conviction, Alves was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

Prosecutors had sought a nine-year prison sentence for Alves, while lawyers representing his accuser wanted 12 years.

While his defense asked for his acquittal or, if found guilty, a one-year prison sentence plus £43,000 (50,000 euros) compensation for the victim.

However, a turn of events in March 2024 revealed that he would be released from prison after just four weeks after appealing.

A court in Barcelona ruled that Alves could be released after paying a bail of one million euros.

The decision can still be appealed.

Is Dani Alves retired?

After his conviction, Barcelona stripped Alves of his legend status.

At the time of his arrest, Alves was under contract with Mexican football club UNAM Pumas, which has since fired him.

However, he has not yet spoken about his future as a footballer.

During his time on the pitch, he won six La Liga titles, two Ligue 1 titles and Serie A.

Alves also won the UEFA Champions League three times while playing for Barcelona in 2009, 2011 and 2015.